Napoleon's Theorem

On each side of a triangle, erect an equilateral triangle, lying exterior to the original triangle. Then the segments connecting the circumcenters of the three equilateral triangles themselves form an equilateral triangle.
We start with the following

Theorem
Let triangles be erected externally on the sides of a ABC so that the sum of the "remote" angles P,Q, and R is 180o. Then the circumcircles of the three triangles ABR, BCP, and ACQ have a common point.

Proof
Let F be the second point of intersection of the circumcircles of ACQ and BCP. BFC + P = 180o. Also, AFC + Q = 180o. Combining these with P + Q + R = 180o immediately yields AFB + R = 180o. So that F also lies on the circumcircle of ABR.

This simple fact has the following

Corollary 1
If the vertices A,B,C of ABC lie, respectively, on sides QR, RP, and PQ of then the three circles PCB, CQA, and BAR have a common point. PQR,

Corollary 2
If similar triangles PCB, CQA, and BAR are erected externally on the sides of ABC, then the circumcircles of these three triangles have a common point. (Please note that the triangles are named in such a manner as to make it obvious that vertices P,Q, and R do not correspond to each other in the given similar triangles.)

Under the conditions of Corollary 2, let OP, OQ, and OR be the circumcenters of ACQ, and ABR, respectively. Consider OPOQOR. Since its sides are

BCP,

perpendicular to the common chords of the three circles, OP = P, OQ = Q, and OR = R. Hence we obtain a proof for a generalization of Napoleon's theorem:

Corollary 3
If similar triangles PCB, CQA, and BAR are erected externally on the sides of a triangle ABC, their circumcenters form a triangle similar to the given three triangles.

Remark
Point F, the point common to the circles circumscribing triangles BCP, ACQ, and ABR is remarkable in its own right. It's known as Fermat's point and often also as the FermatTorricelli point. If all angles of ABC are less than 120o, F lies inside ABC and is the point, for which the sum of distances to the vertices of ABC is minimal.

Reference
1. H.S.M.Coxeter and S.L.Greitzer, Geometry Revisited, MAA, 1967

Napoleon's Theorem

A proof by tesselation A proof with complex numbers A second proof with complex numbers Two proofs Inscribed angles Douglas' Generalization A Generalization Napoleon's Propeller Fermat point Kiepert's theorem

Copyright 1996-2006 Alexander Bogomolny

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