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Droz-Farny Circles

\begin{figure}\begin{center}\BoxedEPSF{DrozFarnyCircle1.epsf scaled 900}\end{center}\end{figure}

Draw a Circle with center $H$ which cuts the lines $M_2M_3$, $M_3M_1$, and $M_1M_2$ (where $M_i$ are the Midpoints) at $P_1$, $Q_1$; $P_2$, $Q_2$; and $P_3$, $Q_3$ respectively, then

\begin{displaymath}
\overline{A_1P_1}=\overline{A_2P_2}=\overline{A_3P_3}=\overline{A_1Q_1}=\overline{A_2Q_2}=\overline{A_3Q_3}.
\end{displaymath}

Conversely, if equal Circles are drawn about the Vertices of a Triangle, they cut the lines joining the Midpoints of the corresponding sides in six points. These points lie on a Circle whose center is the Orthocenter. If $r$ is the Radius of the equal Circles centered on the vertices $A_1$, $A_2$, and $A_3$, and $R_0$ is the Radius of the Circle about $H$, then

\begin{displaymath}
{R_0}^2=4R^2+r^2-{\textstyle{1\over 2}}({a_1}^2+{a_2}^2+{a_3}^2).
\end{displaymath}


\begin{figure}\begin{center}\BoxedEPSF{DrozFarnyCircle21.epsf scaled 800}\end{center}\end{figure}

If the circles equal to the Circumcircle are drawn about the Vertices of a triangle, they cut the lines joining midpoints of the adjacent sides in points of a Circle $R_2$ with center $H$ and Radius

\begin{displaymath}
{R_2}^2=5R^2-{\textstyle{1\over 2}}({a_1}^2+{a_2}^2+{a_3}^2).
\end{displaymath}

\begin{figure}\begin{center}\BoxedEPSF{DrozFarnyCircle22.epsf scaled 800}\end{center}\end{figure}

It is equivalent to the circle obtained by drawing circles with centers at the feet of the altitudes and passing through the Circumcenter. These circles cut the corresponding sides in six points on a circle $R_2'$ whose center is $H$.

\begin{figure}\begin{center}\BoxedEPSF{DrozFarnyCircle23.epsf scaled 800}\end{center}\end{figure}

Furthermore, the circles about the midpoints of the sides and passing though $H$ cut the sides in six points lying on another equivalent circle $R_2''$ whose center is $O$. In summary, the second Droz-Farny circle passes through 12 notable points, two on each of the sides and two on each of the lines joining midpoints of the sides.


References

Goormaghtigh, R. ``Droz-Farny's Theorem.'' Scripta Math. 16, 268-271, 1950.

Johnson, R. A. Modern Geometry: An Elementary Treatise on the Geometry of the Triangle and the Circle. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, pp. 256-258, 1929.



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© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-24