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Generalizations of The Theorem of Ceva
Generalizations of The Theorem of Ceva
Generalizations of The Theorem of Ceva
Florentin Smarandache University of New Mexico 200 College Road Gallup, NM 87301, USA E-mail: smarand@unm.edu
In these paragraphs one presents three generalizations of the famous theorem of Ceva, which states: If in a triangle ABC one plots the convergent straight lines A B BC C A AA1 , BB1 , CC1 then 1 1 1 = 1 . A1C B1 A C1 B Theorem: Let us have the polygon A1 A2 ... An , a point M in its plane, and a circular permutation 1 2 ... n 1 n p= . One notes M ij the intersections of the line Ai M with the lines 2 3 ... n 1 Ai + s Ai + s +1 ,..., Ai + s + t 1 Ai + s + t (for all i and j , j {i + s,..., i + s + t 1}). If M ij An for all the respective indices, and if 2 s + t = n , one has:
n ,i + s + t 1 i , j =1,i + s
M ij Aj M ij Ap ( j )
Analytical demonstration: Let M be a point in the plain of the triangle ABC , such that it satisfies the conditions of the theorem. One chooses a Cartesian system of axes, such that the two parallels with the axes which pass through M do not pass by any point Ai (this is possible). One considers M (a, b ) , where a and b are real variables, and Ai ( Xi , Yi ) where Xi and Yi are known, i { 1,2,..., n}. The former choices ensure us the following relations: Xi a 0 and Yi b 0 for all i { 1, 2,..., n}. The equation of the line Ai M (1 i n) is: xa yb . One notes that d ( x, y; Xi , Yi ) = 0 . Xi a Yi b One has M ij Aj ( Aj , Ai M ) d ( X j , Y j ; X i , Yi ) D( j, i ) = = = M ij Ap ( j ) ( Ap ( j ) , Ai M ) d ( X p ( j ) , Yp ( j ) ; X i , Yi ) D( p ( j ), i )
where ( A, ST ) is the distance from A to the line ST , and where one notes with D(a, b ) for d ( Xa , Ya ; Xb , Yb ) .
Let us calculate the product, where we will use the following convention: a + b will mean p( p(... p (a )...)) , and a b will mean p 1 ( p 1 (... p 1 (a )...)) 12 4 4 3 14 4 244 3
b times
b times
i + s + t 1 j =i+ s
M ij A j M ij A j +1
i + s + t 1 j =i + s
D( j, i ) = D( j + 1, i )
The initial product is equal to: n D(i + s, i ) D(1 + s,1) D(2 + s, 2) D(2 s, s ) = D(n, s ) D(1 s,1) D(2 s, 2) i = 1 D (i s, i )
D(2 s + 2, s + 2) D(2 s + t , s + t ) D(2 s + t + 1, s + t + 1) D(t , s + t ) D(t + 1, s + t + 1) D(2, s + 2) D(2 s + t + 2, s + t + 2) D(2 s + t + s, s + t + s ) = D(t + s, s + t + s ) D(t + 2, s + t + 2) D(1 + s,1) D(2 + s, 2) D(2 s + t , s + t ) D( s, n ) = D(1,1 + s ) D(2, 2 + s ) D( s + t , 2 s + t ) D(n, s )
n
=
i =1
X r a Yr b ( X a )(Yr b) D ( r , p ) X p a Yp b P(r ) , = = r = X a Y b ( X p a )(Yp b) D ( p, r ) P( p) p p X r a Yr b The last equality resulting from what one notes: ( Xt a )(Yt b ) = P(t ) . From (1) it results that P (t ) 0 for all t from {1, 2,..., n} . The proof is completed.
because:
Comments regarding the theorem: t represents the number of lines of a polygon which are intersected by a line Ai0 M ; if one notes the sides Ai Ai +1 of the polygon, by ai , then s + 1 represents the
order of the first line intersected by the line A1 M (that is as +1 the first line intersected by A1 M ). Example: If s = 5 and t = 3 , the theorem says that : - the line A1 M intersects the sides A6 A7 , A7 A8 , A8 A9 . - the line A2 M intersects the sides A7 A8 , A8 A9 , A9 A10 . - the line A3 M intersects the sides A8 A9 , A9 A10 , A10 A11 , etc. Observation: The restrictive condition of the theorem is necessary for the M ij Aj . existence of the ratios M ij Ap ( j )
Consequence 1: Let us have a polygon A1 A2 ...A2 k +1 and a point M in its plan. 1, 2,..., 2 k + 1}, one notes M i the intersection of the line Ai Ap (i ) with For all i from {
the line which passes through M and by the vertex which is opposed to this line. If n M i Ai M i Ai , Ap (i ) then one has: = 1 . i =1 M i Ap ( i )
The demonstration results immediately from the theorem, since one has s = k and t = 1 , that is n = 2 k + 1 . The reciprocal of this consequence is not true. From where it results immediately that the reciprocal of the theorem is not true either. Counterexample: Let us consider a polygon of 5 sides. One plottes the lines A1 M 3 , A2 M 4 and A3 M 5 which intersect in M .
M 3 A3 M 4 A4 M 5 A5 M 3 A4 M 4 A5 M 5 A1 Then one plots the line A4 M 1 such that it does not pass through M and such that it forms the ratio: M 1 A1 = 1 / K or 2 / K . (One chooses one of these values, for which (2) M 1 A2 A4 M 1 does not pass through M ).
Let us have K =
1 M 2 A2 = 1 or in 2 M 2 A3
function of (2). Therefore the product: 5 M i Ai without which the respective lines are concurrent. i =1 M i A p ( i )
Consequence 2: Under the conditions of the theorem, if for all i and j , j i, p 1 (i ) , one notes M ij = Ai M A j Ap ( j ) and M ij A j , Ap ( j ) then one has:
i , j =1
M ij A j
ij
Ap ( j )
= (1)n .
j i, p 1 (i )