Power of a Point and the Radical Axis

Bekhruz Niyazov
April 28, 2024

1 Power of a Point
Power of a point reflects the relative distance of a given point from a given circle. Specifically, the
power of a point Powω (P ) of a point P with respect to a circle ω with center O and radius r is equal
to
Powω (P ) = P O2 − r2 .
There are three possible configurations:
ˆ P lies outside the circle,
ˆ P lies inside the circle,
ˆ P lies on the circle.
The last case is trivial, as P O = r, and thus the power of the point will be equal to 0. The first
and the second cases are shown in the figure below:

T X

P
A
r r
A
P

O O

B Y

Figure 1: Possible configurations

We can see that in the first case

Powω (P ) = P O2 − r2 = (P O − r) · (P O + r) = P A · P B.
The second case is a little bit more complicated. First, we let X and Y be the points on ω such
that ̸ OP X = ̸ OP Y = 90◦ , and A and B be some points on the circle such that the line AB passes
through P . Then
|Powω (P )| = |P O2 − r2 | = P X 2 = P X · P Y,
since P X = P Y . Also we have that △AXP ∼ △Y BP , because ̸ P AX = ̸ BAX = ̸ BY X and
̸ AP X = ̸ BP Y . Thus we get

PA PY
= ⇐⇒ P A · P B = P X · P Y = Powω (P ).
PX PB

1
 In conclusion, if some line AB passes through P and intersects the circle ω at points A and B, then

Powω (P ) = P A · P B.

The only exception is the case P ∈ ω, which we have already discussed above.

2 Radical Axis
The radical axis of two non-concentric circles ω1 and ω2 is a set of points such that Powω1 (P ) =
Powω2 (P ).
Property 1. For circles ω1 and ω2 with centers O1 and O2 , respectively, their radical axis is a line
perpendicular to O1 O2 .
Proof. We will use the Cartesian coordinate system. Let r1 and r2 be the radii of ω1 and ω2 , respec-
tively, and without loss of generality we can assume that the centers O1 and O2 of ω1 and ω2 are
located at (a, 0) and (b, 0), respectively. Let P = (x, y) be some point on the radical axis. Then by
the definitions of the radical axis and the power of a point we have:

(x − a)2 − r12 = (x − b)2 − r22

⇐⇒ x2 − 2xa + a2 − r12 = x2 − 2xb + b2 − r22
⇐⇒ 2x(a − b) = a2 − b2 + r22 − r12
a2 − b2 + r22 − r12
⇐⇒ x = ,
2(a − b)

which means that the graph of this function is line, perpendicular to the x-axis. This implies that it
is also perpendicular to O1 O2 , since O1 and O2 lie on the x-axis.
Property 2. If circles ω1 and ω2 intersect at points A and B, then the line AB is the radical axis of
those two circles.
Proof. Since A lies on both ω1 and ω2 we have 0 = Powω1 (A) = Powω2 (A). Similarly we have
Powω1 (B) = Powω2 (B). Thus both A and B lie on the radical axis. But by Property 1 the radical
axis is a line, and the conclusion follows.
Theorem 2.1 (Radical Center). Let ω1 and ω2 be two circles with centers O1 and O2 . Select points
A and B on ω1 and points C and D on ω2 . Then the following are equivalent:
(a) A, B, C, D lie on a circle with center O3 not on line O1 O2 .
(b) Lines AB and CD intersect on the radical axis of ω1 and ω2 .

3 Examples
Example 1. Let D, E, and F be the points on the sides BC, AC, and AB of an acute-angled triangle
ABC, respectively. Prove that the common cords of the circles ω1 , ω2 and ω3 with diameters BE, CF ,
and AD intersect at the orthocenter.
Solution. We will prove that the power of the orthocenter H is equal for all three circles. Let M and
N be the feet of perpendiculars from B and C to AC and AB. Then we have

BH · HM = CH · HN (1)

2
 A

Figure 2: The radical center of three circles and the three radical axes from Theorem 2.1

because points B, C, M , and N are concyclic. Also notice that M lies on ω1 and N lies on ω2 . Thus
we also have

Powω1 (H) = −BH · HM,

Powω2 (H) = −CH · HN.

Hence with (1) we get

Powω1 (H) = Powω2 (H),

which means that H lies on the radical axis of ω1 and ω2 . Similarly, H lies on the radical axes of ω2
and ω3 , and ω1 and ω3 , and the conclusion follows.

4 Problems
Problem 1. Prove the Theorem 2.1.

Problem 2 (IMO 1995/1). Let A, B, C, D be four distinct points on a line, in that order. The circles
with diameters AC and BD intersect at X and Y . The line XY meets BC at Z. Let P be a point on
the line XY other than Z. The line CP intersects the circle with diameter AC at C and M , and the
line BP intersects the circle with diameter BD at B and N . Prove that the lines AM , DN , XY are
concurrent.

Problem 3. Let BB1 and CC1 be the altitudes of the triangle ABC. If BB1 intersects the circle ω2
with diameter AC at points P and Q, and CC1 intersects the circle ω1 with diameter AB at points M
and N , then prove that M , N , P , and Q are concyclic.
Problem 4 (IMO 2008/1). Let H be the orthocenter of an acute-angled triangle ABC. The circle ΓA
centered at the midpoint of BC and passing through H intersects the sideline BC at points A1 and
A2 . Similarly, define the points B1 , B2 , C1 , and C2 . Prove that six points A1 , A2 , B1 , B2 , C1 , and
C2 are concyclic.