# Relation of some Euclidean geometry theorems and more conjecture generalizations

In this topic I want to share relation of the Pythagorean theorem, the Stewart theorem and the British Flag theorem, the Apollonius' theorem and the Feuerbach-Luchterhand. Since that I posed two conjectures of generalizations of these theorems. My question: I am looking for get a solution of my conjecture.

I. Relation of some Euclidean geometry theorems

1. Pythagorean theorem: Let $ABC$ For a right triangle with legs $AB$ and $AC$ and hypotenuse $BC$ then:

$$AB^2+AC^2=BC^2$$

1. Apollonius' theorem in any triangle $ABC$, if $AD$ is a median, then

$$AB^2 + AC^2 = 2(AD^2+BD^2)$$

• Let $ABC$ be Isosceles triangle with $AB=AC$. Apply Apollonius' theorem we have $AB^2=AD^2+BD^2$, in this case $AD \perp BC$. This is the Pythagorean theorem with the right triangle $ABD$. So the Apollonius' theorem is a generalization of the Pythagorean theorem.

1. Stewart's theorem Let $A$, $B$, $C$ be points on a directed line $l$ in the Euclidean plane, and $P$ be a point anywhere in the plane. Then

$$PA^2.\overline{BC} + PB^2.\overline{CA} + PC^2.\overline{AB} + \overline{BC}.\overline{CA}.\overline{AB} = 0$$

• Let $B$ is midpoint of $AC$ we have: $\overline{BC}=\overline{AB}$, $\overline{CA}=-2\overline{AB}$. Since Stewart's theorem we have:

$$PA^2.\overline{AB} - 2PB^2.\overline{AB} + PC^2.\overline{AB} - 2.\overline{AB}.\overline{AB}.\overline{AB} = 0$$

$\Leftrightarrow$

$$PA^2 + PC^2 = 2(PB^2+AB^2) = 0$$

This is the Apollonius' theorem with the triangle $PAC$ with median $PB$. So the Stewart's theorem is a generalization of the Apollonius' theorem.

1. British flag theorem if a point $P$ on the plane of rectangle $ABCD$ then:

$$PA^2+PC^2=PD^2+PB^2$$

• Let $P \equiv D$ we have $$DA^2+DC^2=DB^2$$

$\Leftrightarrow$

$$DA^2+DC^2=AC^2$$ This is the Pythagorean theorem with the right triangle $DAC$. So the British flag theorem is a generalization of the Pythagorean theorem.

5. Feuerbach-Luchterhand Let $ABCD$ be a cyclic quadrilateral, $P$ be a point on the plane then: $$PA^2.DB.BC.CD-PB^2.AC.CD.DA+PC^2.BD.DA.AB-PD^2.CA.AB.BC = 0$$

• Let circles through $A, B, C, D$ is a line, and $D$ at infinity. Then $DB.CD=CD.DA=BD.DA=PD^2$. From the Feuerbach-Luchterhand we have:

$$PA^2.BC-PB^2.AC+PC^2.AB-CA.AB.BC = 0$$

This is the Stewart theorem with three collinear points $A, B,C$ and $P$ on the plane. So the Feuerbach-Luchterhand is a generalization of the Stewart theorem.

• Let cyclic quarilateral $ABCD$ is a rectangle. We have $AB=CD$ and $AD=BC$ and $AC=BD$. From the Feuerbach-Luchterhand we have:

$$PA^2.AC.AD.AB-PB^2.AC.AB.DA+PC^2.AC.DA.AB-PD^2.CA.AB.AD = 0$$

$\Leftrightarrow$

$$PA^2-PB^2+PC^2-PD^2 = 0$$

This is the British flag theorem with rectangle $ABCD$ and $P$ on the plane. So the Feuerbach-Luchterhand is a generalization of the British flag theorem.

II. More conjecture generalization-I am looking for get a solution

We write Feuerbach-Luchterhand with a form following:

Let $A_1A_2A_3A_4$ be a cyclic quadrilateral, $P$ be a point on the plane then:

$$PA_1^2.\frac{A_{4}A_{2}}{A_{1}A_{4}.A_{1}A_{2}}-PA_2^2.\frac{A_{1}A_{3}}{A_{2}A_{1}.A_{2}A_{3}}+PA_3^2.\frac{A_{2}A_{4}}{A_{3}A_{2}.A_{3}A_{4}}-PA_4^2.\frac{A_{3}A_{1}}{A_{4}A_{3}.A_{4}A_{1}}=0$$

Since the new form, I posed two generalization of Feuerbach-Luchterhand as follows(I check it is true with geogebra sofware):

• Conjecture 1:(First generalization) Let 2n-convex cyclic polygon $A_1A_2A_3...A_{2n}$, let $P$ be a point on the plane, then: $$\sum_{i=1}^{2n} (-1)^{i+1}.PA_i^2.\frac{A_{i-1}A_{i+1}}{A_{i}A_{i-1}.A_{i}A_{i+1}}=0$$

• Conjecture 2:(Second generalization) Let two direct similar 2n-convex cyclic polygon $A_1A_2A_3...A_{2n}$ and $B_1B_2B_3...B_{2n}$, then: $$\sum_{i=1}^{2n} (-1)^{i+1}.B_iA_i^2.\frac{A_{i-1}A_{i+1}}{A_{i}A_{i-1}.A_{i}A_{i+1}}=0$$ Where $A_0=A_{2n}$ and $A_{2n+1}=A_1$

My question: I check the two conjectures by Geogebra and see that it is true, but I don't have a solution. I am looking for a solution.

• And what is your question? – Tobias Kildetoft Mar 21 '16 at 8:31
• I thank to You. @TobiasKildetoft I want to have a solution for the two generalizations. – Oai Thanh Đào Mar 21 '16 at 8:35
• You mean you are asking whether these are correct? – Tobias Kildetoft Mar 21 '16 at 8:37
• Yes, I check my generalizations by geogebra sofware. It is true, but I don't have a proof. I need a proof. – Oai Thanh Đào Mar 21 '16 at 8:40
• If you don't have a proof then you don't know that it is true. I must say I don't think this is on an appropriate level for MO. Maybe math.stackexchange.com would be a better place. But please actually formulate the full question, rather than just state the conjectured generalizations. – Tobias Kildetoft Mar 21 '16 at 8:42

First problem may be solved, for example, as follows. The locus of $P$ satisfying this relation is either a circle or a line or a point or the whole plane or the empty set. Thus it suffices to check this when $P$ is on the same circle or when $P$ is the center $O$ of this circle. For $P=O$, we have alternating sum of $A_{i-1}A_{i+1}/A_{i-1}A_i\cdot A_{i}A_{i+1}$. Denote by $2\varphi_i$ the arc $A_{i-1}A_i$, then this equals (assuming that radius is 1) $\cot \varphi_{i}+\cot \varphi_{i+1}$, and everything cancels telescopically. If $P$ lies on a circle, make inversion in $P$. Your points now lie on a line, after substituting the formulae for change of distance under inversion you see that everything containing point $P$ cancels, and you have again an alternating sum of $A_{i-1}A_{i+1}/A_{i-1}A_i\cdot A_{i}A_{i+1}$, but on the line, not on a circle. Of course it is 0 again.

As for the second problem, it asks for complex numbers. Denote $a_i,b_i$ complex coordinates of $A_i,B_i$, assume that 0 is circumcenter of $B_1\dots B_{2n}$. Then $B_iA_i^2=|b_i-a_i|^2=|b_i|^2+|a_i|^2-b_i \bar{a_i}-a_i\bar{b_i}$. The sums for $|b_i|^2$ and for $|a_i|^2$ are equal to 0, it is already proved. Since polygons are similar, we have $b_i=ua_i+v$ for some fixed complex $u,v$. Then $b_i \bar{a_i}=u|a_i|^2+v\bar{a_i}$. So, everything containing $u$ also is equal to 0. Thus we may suppose that $u=0$, i.e. all $B_i$ are the same, it is also already proved.

• Dear Dr. @FedorPetrov ; Could you give the conjectures with more dimensions? – Oai Thanh Đào Mar 21 '16 at 9:30
• Well, first claim holds even if $P$ does not lie in the same plane. – Fedor Petrov Mar 21 '16 at 9:38
• Dear Dr. @Fedor please see: mathoverflow.net/questions/224338/… – Oai Thanh Đào Apr 5 '16 at 16:01