ON A RICH CONFIGURATION RELATED TO TANGENT CIRCLES

IN A TRIANGLE

NAVNEEL SINGHAL

Abstract. We describe a configuration related to the incircle and the mixtilinear

incircle of a triangle and prove many incidences associated with it and provide an
application of it.

1. Notation
We use the notation (<) to be the circumcircle of figure <, (Q) to be the circle with
Q as center where the circle being discussed with Q as center is unique, and (M N ) to
be the circle with diameter M N . By G∗ we denote the inverse of G in the incircle.

2. Introduction
Firstly we describe the configuration.
ABC is a triangle with incenter I, circumcenter O, orthocenter H. The incircle touches
BC, CA, AB at D, E, F resp. The A−mixtilinear incircle touches the circumcircle of
(ABC), Γ at T , and the A−mixtilinear touchchord meets BC at Y . The midpoint of
arc BC of Γ not containing A is MA and its antipode in Γ is MA0 . EF intersects BC at
X1 , the circle Ω with AI as a diameter cuts Γ at KA and A. X is the foot of D on EF .
AI intersects BC at L1 . The midpoint of DX1 is L. K is on BC such that XK k AKA .
A0 is the antipode of A in Γ, EF cuts AKA at Z, M1 is the midpoint of IY , KA 0
is the
second intersection of (KA XD) with Γ. (IDY ) cuts (I) again at U . By ω we denote the
incircle, by ρ we denote (BIC), by α we denote (KA ZX1 ) and by β we denote (KA Y X1 )

3. The Properties
We begin by a few well known properties, whose proofs we will omit.
Lemma 3.1. I is the midpoint of the A-mixtilinear touch chord.
Lemma 3.2. Y , T , MA are collinear and MA0 , I, T are collinear with these lines being
perpendicular.
Lemma 3.3. D, L1 , MA , T are concyclic.
Lemma 3.4. A, KA , Y are collinear.
Proof. Note that Ω and ρ are tangent to each other because they meet at I and their
centers are the midpoint of AI and MA respectively, which are collinear with I. By
the radical axes theorem on Ω, ρ, Γ, the A−mixtilinear touch chord, BC and AKA are
collinear, implying the conclusion. 
Lemma 3.5. KA , X, I, A0 are collinear and KA , D, MA are collinear.
1
2 NAVNEEL SINGHAL

Proof. Consider the inverse of KA under the inversion I about the incircle. As Γ is sent
to the ninepoint circle of DEF , and Ω is sent to EF , KA is sent to X, giving KA , X, I
collinear. Also since ∠AKA I = 90◦ , we have that KA I meets Γ at A0 .
For the second part, (B, C; D, X1 ) = −1 and DX ⊥ EF ⇒ DX bisects ∠BXC ⇒
FX
4BF X ∼ 4XEC ⇒ XE = F B BD
EC = DC . Since KA is the center of spiral similarity S
sending F E to BC, F E ∪ {X} is sent to BC ∪ {D} under S. Also, I is sent to MA under
S and so by the first part of this lemma, KA , D, MA are collinear. 
Remark. The first part of the lemma appeared as a problem in NIMO 2014.

A Γ

KA Fe
J E
I′
U
X O

F I ρ

Z
M1
H

Y D
X1 L C
B L1

T
MA

Fig. 1. The Main Configuration

Lemma 3.6. IXKD is cyclic.

Proof. ∠IXK + ∠IDK = 90◦ + 90◦ = 180◦ . 
Lemma 3.7. X1 KA XD is cyclic.
Proof. Due to S,
KA B FB BX
= =
KA C EC XC
and thus KA lies on the X−Apollonius circle of 4BXC. 
Lemma 3.8. IDY KA is cyclic.
Proof. ∠IKA Y + ∠IDY = 90◦ + 90◦ = 180◦ 
Lemma 3.9. 4KA DX1 ∼ 4KA IY ∼ 4KA XZ.
Proof. Since ∠KA IY = ∠KA DY = ∠KA DX1 and ∠X1 KA D = 90◦ = ∠Y KA I and
EF k IY , we get the result. 
Lemma 3.10. IY is a common tangent to Ω and β.
Proof. From the previous lemma, ∠IY KA = ∠Y X1 KA and so IY is tangent to β. Since
IY is clearly tangent to Ω, the lemma stands proven. 
 ON A RICH CONFIGURATION RELATED TO TANGENT CIRCLES IN A TRIANGLE 3

Lemma 3.11. Ω and β are tangent to each other.

Proof. As M1 Y = M1 I, M1 is on the radical axis of Ω and β. Also since M1 is the
circumcenter of the right angled triangle IKA Y , M1 KA = M1 I = M1 Y and so M1 KA is
tangent to both the circles at KA , implying the conclusion. 
Lemma 3.12. S sends Z to X1 .
Proof. Note that as Z is on F E, its image must lie on BC. Also if the angle of S is θ, then
the angle between EF and BC is also θ. This implies that since ∠DKA X1 = ∠IKA Y ,
θ = ∠IKA D = ∠ZKA X1 , which leads directly to the required statement. 
Lemma 3.13. BC is tangent to α.
Proof. Since ∠ZKA X1 = θ = ∠Y X1 Z, BC is tangent to α. 
Lemma 3.14. Y and K are isotomic points with respect to X1 D.
Proof. As L is the midpoint of X1 D, it is the circumcenter of DKA XX1 . So if L0 is the
midpoint of XKA , JJ 0 ⊥ XKA ⊥ XK k KA Y ⇒ L is the midpoint of Y K, and so Y, K
are isotomic points with respect to X1 D. 
Lemma 3.15 (well known). XD bisects ∠HXI.
Proof. KA is the Miquel point of EF BC, so the reflection of the Steiner line of EF BC
in EF , say ` must pass through KA . But as I is the antipode of A in Ω, its reflection
in EF is the orthocenter of AEF . So I ∈ `. ⇒ X ∈ `. Also we have that the reflection
of H in EF lies on `. Thus EF bisects ∠HXI and since XD ⊥ EF , XD is the other
bisector of ∠HXI. 
Lemma 3.16. (L) is orthogonal to ω, α, Γ and the circles Γ and α are tangent to each
other.
Proof. The first part of the first statement follows from the fact that ∠IDL = 90◦ . To
prove the orthogonality of (L) with Γ and α, we observe that as LKA = LD, L is on
the radical axis of ω and Γ. Also as ∠LKA MA = ∠LKA D = ∠LDKA = ∠Y DKA =
∠Y IKA = ∠KA AI = ∠KA AMA and thus LKA is tangent to Γ so (L) is orthogonal to
Γ.
Since BC is tangent to α, LX1 is tangent to α, and thus (L) and α are orthogonal. Since
LD = LKA = LX1 , we have that LKA is tangent to both α and Γ at KA , giving the
required result. 
Remark. (L) is the radical circle of α, ω, Γ, ρ, the final one because the radical axis of ρ
and Γ is BC.
Lemma 3.17. T is on the circle (IDY KA ).
Proof. By lemma 3.2, we have ∠IT Y = 90◦ and T lies on (IY ) which is precisely
(IDY KA ). 
Lemma 3.18. (M1 ) and Ω are orthogonal.
Proof. AI is tangent to (M1 ). 
Lemma 3.19. AY T L1 is cyclic.
Proof. ∠AL1 Y = ∠ACMA = ∠AT Y , and thus (AY T L1 ) is cyclic. 
4 NAVNEEL SINGHAL

Lemma 3.20. ZL ⊥ IO
Proof. ZKA · ZA = ZF · ZE ⇒ Z ∈ radical axis of ω and Γ ⇒ ZL is the radical axis of
ω and Γ, and so ZL ⊥ IO. 
Lemma 3.21. Midpoint of the A−altitude of 4ABC, D, and the A−excenter IA are
collinear.
Proof. By the homothety at A sending the incircle to the A−excircle, D, A and the
endpoint of the diameter of (IA ) perpendicular to BC and not on BC are collinear. By
a stretch at BC with ratio 12 , we get our result. 
Remark. The lemma is true even when D is replaced by the tangency point of the
A−excircle and BC and when IA is replaced by I.
Lemma 3.22. The radical axis of ω and ρ is the D-midline of DEF .
Proof. Clearly, the radical axis in question must be perpendicular to AI and thus be
parallel to EF . Since L is on the radical axis, and L is the midpoint of X1 D, we get our
result. 
Lemma 3.23. IL and U D meet on ρ.
Proof. L is on the radical axis of ω and ρ so L∗ is on ρ. Also, L∗ ∈ IL. Also, as (L) is
orthogonal to ω, LU, LD are tangents to ω ⇒ L∗ ∈ U D and thus our result is proved. 
Remark. As IL ⊥ U D, ∠IL∗ D = 90◦ . So the line U D meets ρ on the antipode of I in
ρ, which is IA . So U D bisects the A−altitude.
Lemma 3.24. IX1 , (L), Ω concur at a point.
Proof. As X1 is on EF , X1∗ is on Ω. As (L) and ω are orthogonal and X1 is on (L), X1∗ is
on (L). By the definition of inverse, X1∗ ∈ IX1 . Thus IX1 , (L), Ω concur at a point. 
Lemma 3.25. U D, EF , KA X1∗ concur at a point.
Proof. The result follows from radical axes theorem applied to the triad of circles (L), ω, Ω.

Lemma 3.26. XD, ω, (M1 ) concur.
Proof. Let XD intersect ω again at J. Then, ∠JID = ∠JID = ∠XDI = ∠XKI =
∠Y KA X1 = θ = ∠DY I and thus J is on (M1 ). 
Lemma 3.27. If Fe is the Feuerbach point of ABC, then Fe J is the reflection of the
line OI in EF .
Proof. It is well known that OI is the Euler line of DEF , and that Fe is the Euler
reflection point of DEF . Since J is the reflection of the orthocenter of DEF over EF ,
we get that Fe J is the reflection of OI over EF . 
Observe that by the lemma just proved, the reflection of I over EF lies on JFe . the
inverse of JFe is the circumcircle of IJFe , which contains the inverse of the reflection of I
over EF , i.e., the center of Ω. Also since ∠MA0 KA A = θ, X1 , KA , MA0 are also collinear.
A consequence is that by Pascal’s theorem on T MA MA0 KA AA0 , OY, X1 MA0 , A0 T concur
at a point.
 ON A RICH CONFIGURATION RELATED TO TANGENT CIRCLES IN A TRIANGLE 5

Lemma 3.28. XD is the polar of Y .

Proof. IY ⊥ XD and Y D is tangent to ω give that XD is the polar of Y . 

4. An application
Consider the following problem (points renamed) from the IMO Shortlist of 2002
(numbered G7):
Problem: ABC is an acute-angled triangle. The incircle touches BC at D. The altitude
AQ has midpoint M . The line KM meets the incircle again at U 0 . Show that the
circumcircle of BCU 0 touches the incircle of ABC at U 0 .
Solution:
By the remark accompanying lemma 3.23, we have U 0 ≡ U Apply radical axes theorem
on the circles (BU C), ω and Γ. The radical center is L by our previous discussion. But
LU 0 = LD. So in fact LU 02 = LD2 = LB · LC and thus LU 0 is tangent to ω. But as
LU 0 is the radical axis of ω and (BU 0 C), we get that LU 0 is tangent to (BU 0 C) as well
and so (BU 0 C) and ω are tangent to each other at U 0 as required.

References
[1] J. Vonk, The Feuerbach point and reflections of the Euler line, Forum Geom,
9(2009) 47-55
[2] A.V. Akopyan, Geometry in Figures, 2011