One Generalization of the Simson-Wallace Line

Mario Cekic, Mise Dimitrijevica 7A, Novi Sad, Serbia Grammar School Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj, Novi Sad, Serbia
Abstract In this paper I am going to formulate and produce a proof of one possible generalization of the famous Simson-Wallace line. The main point of the proof is to give an example of the use of induction when proving geometry problems and to point out the importance of convenient notation when introducing more generalized entities.

Introduction

At the beginning, Ill state the following, well-known, theorem. Theorem 1 (Simson-Wallace theorem). Let a ABC be the triangle inscribed in a circle k and a point P lie in the same plane. The feet of perpendiculars from P on the sides of the triangle are collinear if and only if the point P lies on the circle k. In the case of P lying on the circle k the line that contains the mentioned feet is called the Simson-Wallace line1 . In further discussion, Ill refer to it as Simson line for practical reasons. Theorem 1 is one of the most popular theorems concerning triangles. Ill leave it without proof since there is number of well-known proofs and it is not the main topic of this paper.

Generalization of the Simson line

There is probably a variety of ways to generalize the theorem 1. One of the ways follows immediately. Denition 1. Simson line of the point P lying on a circumcircle of a polygon A1 A2 ...An is recurrently dened in the following manner: if n = 3, Simson line of the point P in respect to the triangle A1 A2 A3 is the line containing the feet of perpendiculars from P on the sides of the triangle (or their extensions), if n > 3, Simson line of the point P in respect to the polygon A1 A2 ...An is the line containing the feet of perpendiculars from P on Simson lines of the polygons A1 ...Ai1 Ai+1 ...An , i {1, n}. In respect to the denition the following theorem holds: Theorem 2. Simson line exists for all n N, n 3. Proof. It is of crucial importance to introduce a convenient notation before we continue. Accordingly, let S be the subset of the set A = {A1 , A2 , . . . , An }, such that |S| 2. Further on, let MS be the polygon consisting of the vertices from S in order in which they appear on the circle. Let LS be the Simson line of the point P in respect to the polygon MS , and let PS be the foot of the perpendicular from P on LS . Exceptionally, if S consists of only two dierent elements Ai and Aj , LS is the line p(Ai , Aj ), and point PS is the foot of the perpendicular from P on the line p(Ai , Aj ). Now, lets introduce MS = MA\S , LS = LA\S and PS = PA\S . This is done for purely practical reasons. Now that we have introduced compact notation, let us see what can be derived from the denition 1 expressed in the introduced notation. It is obvious that PAi ,Aj LAi , for arbitrary j = i (LAi is the Simson line in respect to the polygon MAi , (n1 vertices), so it contains the feet of perpendiculars from n1 polygons MAi ,At , t {1, 2, . . . , n}, t = i (n 2 vertices). Among others, it contains the foot of the perpendicular from P on the Simson line of the
1 The reason for such a name is clearly historical. The name is aimed to inspire respect for two mathematicians, Robert Simson (1687 - 1768) and William Wallace (1768 - 1843).

polygon MAi ,Aj (n 2 vertices), respectively point PAi ,Aj ). By analogous consideration, PAi ,Aj LAj which leads to: PAi ,Aj LAi LAj . (1) Similarly, it can be concluded that PAi ,Aj ,Ak LAi ,Aj for arbitrary k {i, j}. Analogously, PAi ,Aj ,Ak LAj ,Ak and PAi ,Aj ,Ak LAk ,Ai . Finally: PAi ,Aj ,Ak LAi ,Aj LAj ,Ak LAk ,Ai . (2) After deducing identities (1) and (2) we can continue to the proof itself. It is clear that the proof will be carried out by induction by n, the number of vertices of a given polygon. Naturally, base of induction is a triangle, for which this theorem is actually the theorem 1. In addition, it will be sucient to prove the statement for a cyclic quadrilateral (the reason for this will be clear later in the proof). Let us denote the feet of perpendiculars from point P on the Simson lines of triangles ABC, ABD, ACD and BCD with Pd , Pc , Pb and Pa , respectively, and the feet of perpendiculars from point P on the lines determined by points A, B, C and D with PAB , PAC , PAD , PBC , PBD and PCD (gure 2). If we prove that any three of points Pa , Pb , Pc and Pd are collinear, we will prove that all four are collinear. Let us observe, for example, points Pa , Pb and Pc . They represent the feet of perpendiculars from P on the lines containing the sides of the triangle PAD PBD PCD . Points PAD , PBD , PCD and P are concyclic - PAD , PBD and PCD are the feet of perpendiculars from P on the lines that contain point D, so they lie on circle of diameter P D. Consequently, points PA , PB and PC are collinear (they lie on the Simson line of the triangle PAD PBD PCD ). By this, the proof is completed in the case of n = 4.

Figure 1: Blue points (A, B, C, D) and blue lines represent the vertices of the quadrilateral ABCD and lines containing the pairs of those points. Green lines represent the Simson line of the point P in respect to the triangles ABC, ABD, ACD and BCD. Red points (Pa , Pb , Pc , Pd ) represent the feet of the perpendiculars from P on Simson lines of the previous triangles. Finally, Simson line of the quadrilateral ABCD is the red line containing red points Pa , Pb , Pc , Pd . Let us assume that for each cyclic polygon with (n1) or (n2) vertices, n > 4, Simson line exists. Hence, let us prove that it implies the existence of Simson line for each cyclic polygon with n vertices. In order to prove previous it is sucient to prove that the feet of perpendiculars from P on the Simson lines of three arbitrary polygons with n 1 vertices are collinear.

Using identity (1) and observing polygons MAi , MAj , MAk , their Simson lines LAi , LAj , LAk , and the feet of perpendiculars from P on their Simson lines PAi , PAj , PAk we can conclude: PAi ,Aj LAi LAj , PAj ,Ak LAj LAk , PAk ,Ai LAk LAi . PAi PAj PAk is pedal triangle2 of point P

Let us use the similar consideration as in the case of cyclic equilateral. As PAi , PAj and PAk are the feet of perpendiculars from P on LAi , LAj and LAk , respectively, the triangle (Figure 2) in respect to PAi ,Aj PAj ,Ak PAk ,Ai . Considering identity (2) lines LAi ,Aj , LAj ,Ak and LAk ,Ai meet at

point PAi ,Aj ,Ak . To make such a conclusion we have had to assume that Simson line exists for polygons with n 2 vertices too, as we have done in inductive hypothesis. To complete the inductive base, apart from triangle, we have had to prove the case of cyclic equilateral. The feet of perpendiculars from point P on the previous lines, points PAi ,Aj , PAj ,Ak and PAk ,Ai , belong to the circle over diameter P PAi ,Aj ,Ak , which implies that they are concyclic with P . Therefore, points PAi ,Aj , PAj ,Ak , PAk ,Ai and P are concyclic, which assuming that triangle of point P in respect to PAi ,Aj PAj ,Ak PAk ,Ai ), which completes the proof. PAi PAj PAk is pedal PAi ,Aj PAj ,Ak PAk ,Ai implies that points PAi , PAj , PAk are collinear (they lie on the Simson line of

Figure 2:

Conclusion

The theorem proven in the previous section represents an illuminating example of how mathematical induction can be applied in elementary geometry. It also perfectly illustrates the importance of compact notation when dealing with the generalized statements. It should be noted that during whole process of proving there was no need to observe the polygon in whole, we simply considered its parts, triangles and quadrilaterals, which were elementary. In the end, I would like to emphasize how, from the very simple theorem, step-by-step we have nished with the complex one. It is the whole beauty of mathematics, the fact that using simple, obvious pieces we can build unbelievably complex structures - the only limit is our creativity.

2 Pedal

triangle in respect to a given triangle is formed by the feet from perpendiculars from P on its sides (or extensions).