1

Ellipses in Sangaku Problems

J. Marshall Unger
Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures
The Ohio State University

Version of 30 August 2012

Japanese of the Edo period treated an
ellipse (O)a,b, as the intersection of a
right circular cylinder and a plane . If
a sphere (S)b is inscribed in the cylinder
so that it is cut by , they intersect in a
circle (C)r. If we choose r so that (C) is
inscribed in (O), the line where the
perpendicular cross-section of the
cylinder through S meets passes
through the two points where (C)
touches (O) internally.

In the figure, T is one of these points
and D is the foot of the perpendicular
from T to AA in . is perpendicular
to the plane determined by S, A, and
A. We place V on the line where
meets the perpendicular cross-section of
the cylinder through A so that it is the
vertex of right triangle AVA. (That is, V
lies on the generator of the cylinder through A.) Since OS || AV, SOC = AAV, and, since CS
AA, AV AV, and OSC = AAV. This is also SDO because all perpendicular cross-
sections of the cylinder are parallel. Thus in , AVA ~ SCO ~ OSD ~ DCS.

If a second circle (C)t touches (O) externally at T, CC = t + r and all the other distances
can be computed from similar right triangles and the easy equalities
2 2
r b CS = , AV =
2b, and
2 2
2 b a AV = . From
V A
CS
AV
CO
'
= we get
b
r b b a
CO
2 2 2 2

= and from
AV
V A
CS
CD '
= ,
2 2
2 2
b a
r b b
CD

= . Adding these yields

2 2
2 2 2
b a b
r b a
DO

= . Continuing, from
CT
CD
T C
DE
=
'
, we get
2 2
2 2
b a r
r b bt
r
t
CD DE

= = . We could go on computing distances in this

way, but we pause here to note that
r a
t b
DO
DE
2
2
= .
S
O
A
A V
C
C
D
E
T
2

Now suppose we choose t so that the tangents to
(C) parallel to CO also touch (O). The Japanese
knew that, in this case, CO = a + b. Fukagawa
and Pedoe report a quite complicated proof of this,
but hint there is an easier way. Indeed there is. If
O = (0,0), every point on the ellipse is (a cos t, b
sin t) for some t, 0 t < 2. In the figure, let be
the angle made by the tangents with the major axis
of the ellipse. The line from F = (b cos , b sin )
on (O)b to T is parallel to the major axis.
Likewise, the perpendicular to the major axis from
the point where CO cuts (O)a (not shown) passes through T.
Hence T = (a cos , b sin ).

Note that CO cuts (O)b in F because it is parallel to the tangents. The previously derived
ratio
r a
t b
DO
DE
2
2
= now becomes
r a
t b
a
a O C
2
2
cos
cos ) (
=
'
u
u
, or a
ar
t b
O C + = '
2
.

On other hand, since FTC ~ OCC,
CT
OF
C C
O C
=
'
'
, or CO/(t + r) = b/r. That is, CO = bt/r + b.
Equating and solving for t/r yields a/b. It is easy to verify that substituting a/b for t/r in
either expression for CO yields a + b.



Here is second application of the formulae for CO, DO, and DE previously derived. In this
problem (Fukagawa & Pedoe 6.3.1), t is set so that (C) touches the ellipse and (O)a as
shown.

We add DO to DE to get EO, and subtract CO from
EO to get CE. Then, since (a t)
2
EO
2
= CE
2
= (r
+ t)
2
CE
2
, it is just a matter of patient algebraic
manipulation to prove that


) 8 (
2
2
at b b
a
b
r + + = .




A third example of the same kind:
O
F
T
C E
C
O
F
C E
C
O
3
Problem 6.1.2: Given an ellipse (O)a,b, an inscribed circle (C)r
internally tangent to (O) at T, the tangent through T, and HO = h
perpendicular to HT, prove that h = b
2
/r.




Solution: Subtracting CD
2
from CT
2
= r
2
gives DT
2
.
Adding this to DO
2
gives OT
2
. We know CO
2
.
Plugging these values into the equation OT
2
h
2
=
HT
2
= CO
2
(h r)
2
, we get

2
2
2 2 2 2
2
2 2 2
2 2 4
2 2
2 2 2
2
) (
) )( (
) (
) ( ) (
r h
b
r b b a
h
b a b
r b a
b a
r b b
r

=

, or h = b
2
/r.

Another Japanese technique was to use affine transformations:

Problem 6.1.1: Given an ellipse with a line l passing through
its center, a tangent parallel to l, and a circle of radius r
tangent to both these lines, prove that lr = ab.

Solution: Add the
auxiliary lines shown.
The diameter of the
circle is the altitude of the triangle with base l and
apex at the point where the circle touches the ellipse.
Thus r is half the altitude, so the area of the triangle is
lr.

An affine transformation of the figure by b/a causes the ellipse to become a circle of radius
b. (If the plane of the figure cuts a cylinder at an angle, the transformation is the projection
by parallel rays of the figure onto a perpendicular cross-section of the cylinder.)

The area of the resulting triangle is (2b)(b/2) = b
2
. Applying the
inverse transformation, the area of the original triangle, lr, is
(a/b)b
2
= ab.



The method here is very similar to that of Fukagawa & Pedoe
Example 7.1, which they call Iwatas Theorem and is the same
as Fukagawa & Rothman Problem 6.7.

O
H
C
T
D
4
A general inscribed circle of radius r centered on the major axis of the ellipse touches its
circumference at the endpoints of a chord parallel to the minor axis. As r decreases, CO
increaeses and approaches a r ; the chord shrinks to the point and the circle touches the
ellipse just at the end of the major axis, say A. Solving the quadratic equation
b
r b b a
r a
2 2 2 2

= , we see that this happens when r = b
2
/a, which in calculus terms,
is the radius of curvature of the ellipse at A.

Problem 6.1.3: Given an ellipse (O)a,b with an inscribed
circle (C)r, r = b
2
/a, and a tangent to it meeting the ellipse at P,
prove that
2 2
b a OP = .

Solution: In right triangle CTO, we have
2 2 2
) ( OT r r a = .
Subtituting b
2
/a for r, this yields
2 2
2b a OT = . Hence tan
COT =
2 2 2
2 / b a a b .
Since COT = EOP, EP/EO = tan COT. But EP/EO =
t a
t b
cos
sin
. Thus tan t =
2 2
2 / b a b .
This means that, if we construct OD = OT and rectangle BODQ as shown, its diagonal and
the major axis form the parameter angle DOQ = t.


The diagonal of this rectangle is
2 2 2 2 2
2 b a b a b = + , so sin t =
2 2
/ b a b . But b
sin t = EP. Therefore, EP =
2 2 2
/ b a b . Looking at
PEO ~ CTO, we have
2 2
2
b a
b
r a
r
OP
EP

= . Replacing
EP with the derived value, we get
2 2
b a OP = .


Notice that
2 2
b a is the distance from the center of the ellipse to one of its foci.



The Japanese understood and used the idea behind the following theorem:
Line y = mx + c is tangent to ellipse 1
2
2
2
2
= +
b
y
a
x
if and only if
2 2 2
b m a c + = .
To prove this, one substitutes mx + c for y in the equation of the ellipse and obtains
0 ) ( 2 ) (
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
= + + + b c a cmx a x b m a , the two solutions of which must coincide since a
O
DCE

P
T
A
B Q
5
single line touches an ellipse in just one point. Hence the discriminant must be zero; i.e.,
0 ) ( ) ( 4 ) 2 (
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
= + + b c a b m a cm a . This leads to
2 2 2 2
b m a c + = . Here are three
problems that make use of this theorem.

Problem 7.2.4: ABCD is a square of side 2l. M and
N are the midpoints of BC and AD. Ellipse (O)a,b
is inscribed in the resulting parallelogram with the
major axis parallel to AM. Prove that
5
6
l a = .
Solution: Since the major axis is parallel to AM, CN,
the minor axis is perpendicular to them and meets
them at its endpoints E, F. Produce EF as shown to
obtain G and H. Say that the major axis and BC
meet in K.
If the ellipse is 1
2
2
2
2
= +
b
y
a
x
, then CH has the
equation y = 2x + l 5 because all the right triangles
in the figure are similar with legs in the ratio 2:1;
hence KO = l 5 /2 and HO = l 5 . By the theorem,
5l
2
= 4a
2
+ b
2
. But CDN ~ CFG ~ NFO, so FN = 2b and 5 b l NO = = . Substituting
5
l

for b, 5l
2
l
2
/5= 4a
2
, or
5
6
l a = .



Problem 7.1.1: An ellipse (O)a,b is inscribed in a right triangle TUV with its axes parallel
to the legs of the triangle as shown. Prove that
) ( 2
) 2 (
b TV
b TV UV
a

= . That is,
) ( 2
) 2 (
b u
b u t
a

= .

Solution: In the coordinate system in which the ellipse has the
equation 1
2
2
2
2
= +
b
y
a
x
, the line TU is c x
t
u
y + = where
t
u
a t
b c
=

+
. Hence b
t
a t u
x
t
u
y

+ =
) (
. By the theorem,
2
2
2 2
2
) (
b
t
u a
b
t
a t u
+ =
|
.
|

\
|

, i.e.,
) ( 2
2
u b
tu bt
a

= , or
) ( 2
) 2 (
b u
b u t

.
A
C D
N
O
F
G
E
H
B
M
K
T
V U
S
6


Problem 6.1.7: Four congruent ellipses are
arranged as shown, each touching two others and
their centers forming a square. What is the
radius of the circle that circumscribes all four?

Solution: If a is the semimajor axis of each
ellipse and AA = 2t, then the desired radius is
2a + t. If (O) is 1
2
2
2
2
= +
b
y
a
x
, then l is
y = x + a + t. Applying the theorem,

2 2 2
) ( b a t a + = + , so
2 2
2 b a a t a + + = + .

Next are two problems that make use of a variation on the same
idea.

Problem 6.1.5: What is the relationship of the axes of an ellipse
(O)a,b and the radius of a semicricle (C)r in which it is
inscribed?
Solution: If (O)a,b is 1
2
2
2
2
= +
b
y
a
x
, then (C)r is
x
2
+ (y + b)
2
= r
2
. Hence, at the two points where (C) touches
(O), we have 1
) (
2
2
2
2 2
= +
+
b
y
a
b y r
, which has solutions
2 2
2 4 2 2 2 2 4 3
b a
r b p b a b a b
y

+
= .
The value of y is the same at both points, so 0
2 4 2 2 2 2 4
= + r b p b a b a , which yields
) (
2 2 2 4
b a r a = .

Problem 6.1.6: All the ellipses are congruent. Their
centers form an equilateral triangle. Each touches the
other two. Circles (P)R and (P)r touch all three. (1)
Find R. (2) Prove that, if r = b, then a = 3b.

Solution: If (O)a,b is 1
2
2
2
2
= +
b
y
a
x
, then (P)R is
x
2
+ (y p)
2
= R
2
and PQ is y = p x +
3
1
.
Applying the theorem,
3
3
2 2
2
b a
p
+
= . On the other
O
A
A
l
P
O
P
Q
T
7
hand, at the two points where (P)R touches (O), 1
) (
2
2
2
2 2
= +

b
y
a
p y R
, which leads to
2 2
2 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 4 2
b a
R b R b a p b a b a b a pb
y

+ +
= . Since y is the same at both points, the
discriminant is zero, so
2 2
4 2 2 2 2
2
a b
a p a b a
R

= or, replacing p
2
with the previously derived
expression,
2 2
4
2
3 3
4
b a
a
R

= . This answers part 1. As for part 2, if r = b, then 2b = p so

3
3
4
2 2
2
b a
b
+
= , or more simply 3b = a.

This is almost the same problem as Fukagawa & Rothman 5.21, which, however, asks for a
in terms of R for ellipses of maximum area, a fillip that adds a calculus step. (The answer
is 2 / R a = .)




In the following problem, we use the fact that y is the same at two points but dont have a
discriminant to deal with.

Problem 6.4.6: Circle (C)r touches ellipse (O)a,b
internally at one end of its minor axis and at two
diametrically opposed points. A circle of radius t
passes through the other end of the minor axis and C.
(P)s and (Q)s each touch (C) externally and the ellipse
internally at two points. Prove that r = 2s + 6t.
Solution: If (O)a,b is 1
2
2
2
2
= +
b
y
a
x
, then (C)r is x
2
+ (y + b 2t)
2
= r
2
= (2b 2t)
2
. Solving
these equations simultaneously, eliminating x, yields roots b and
2 2
2 2 3
4 3
b a
t b b a b

, which is
negative. Adding this to b and equating to 2t, we get
2 2
3
b a
b
t
+
= . But, using the
previously derived formula for OQ, we also have (r + s)
2
(b 2t)
2
=
b
s b b a
2 2 2 2

in
COQ. Substituting 2b 2t for r and
2 2
3
b a
b
+
for t, this yields
2 2
3 2
3
b a
b b a
s
+

= . Thus 2s + 6t
=
2 2
2
2
b a
b a
+
= 2b
2 2
3
2
b a
b
+
= r.
O
C
Q
P
8
Here is my solution of one last problem, which brings together almost all the foregoing
ideas:
Problem 6.3.9: Ellipse (E)a,b touches
circle (O)r at two distinct points and chord
AB at T. Circle (S)s, inscibed in (E), also
touches AB at T. Circle (V)v touches (O)
internally and (S) externally at T. M is the
midpoint of AB; MO meets (O) in C. If
CM = 2h, prove that (b/s)
2
= h/v.

Solution: Extend AB to meet ES in D.
Draw DV, and let F be the point where DV
meets the perpendicular to AB from E.
Say AB and EF intersect at N. From
problem 6.1.2, we know that EN = b
2
/s;
therefore (b/s)
2
= EN/s = EN/ST = DN/DT
= FN/VT = FN/v. Thus the problem
comes down to showing that 2FN = CM.
This can be done algebraically as follows.

We know
b
s b b a
ES
2 2 2 2

= . One can prove
a
r a a b
EO
2 2 2 2

= either by
using the same method we used for ES, but with minor and major axes interchanged, or by
the technique illustrated in 6.1.6. We also know that
2 2
2 2
b a
s b b
SR

= . Let the major and

minor axes of the ellipse be the x and y axes of a coordinate system with origin E. From s
2

SR
2
= RT
2
, we get the y
T
. The y-intercept
of AD is b
2
/y
T
, so we can calculate EG.
(There are other ways to derive EG.) By
means of the proportion EN/EG = MO/(EO
EG), we find that

as
ab r a s a b
MO
2 2 2 2 2 4

= .

A second way to calculate MO is to solve
2 2 2 2 2
SU ES EO UV OV + = , both
sides of which equal OU
2
. Here OV = r
v, UV = v MO, SU = s + MO, and we can
substitute the expressions for EO and ES
previously mentioned. The result is
O
M
C
A
V
S
B
E
T
C
V
S R E
F
G
A
O
M
N T
B
D
U
9
) ( 2
2
2
2 2
2
2 2
v s
b
s a
a
r b
rv
MO
+

= . We now equate the two expressions for MO and solve for v:
2
2 2 2 2 2 4
2
) (
ab
ars ab r a s a b s
v
+
= . Multiplying this by b
2
/s
2
, we obtain
as
ars ab r a s a b
FN
2
2 2 2 2 2 4
+
= . Now it is easy to see that this is precisely half the
sum of the first expression for MO and r, which is h.

The foregoing summary masks the difficulty of the algebra involved, but if a geometric
proof of the innocent-looking fact that FN = CM/2 exists, it must surely be more difficult to
find.


References

Fukagawa, Hidetoshi, and Dan Pedoe. 1989. Japanese temple geometry problems.
Winnipeg: Charles Babbage Research Centre.

, and Tony Rothman. 2008. Sacred mathematics: Japanese temple geometry.
Princeton: Princeton University Press.