Barycentric coordinates

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Barycentric coordinates are triples of numbers $(t_1,t_2,t_3)$ corresponding to masses placed at the vertices of a reference triangle $\Delta{A_1}{A_2}{A_3}$ . These masses then determine a point $P$ , which is the geometric centroid of the three masses and is identified with coordinates $(t_1,t_2,t_3)$ . The vertices of the triangle are given by $(1,0,0)$ , $(0,1,0)$ , and $(0,0,1)$ . Barycentric coordinates were discovered by Möbius in 1827 (Coxeter 1969, p. 217; Fauvel et al. 1993).

The Central NC Math Group published a lecture concerning this topic at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQim7-wrwL0 if you would like to view it.

Useful formulas

Notation

Let the triangle $\triangle ABC$ be a given triangle, $a, b, c$ be the lengths of $BC, AC, AB, \angle A = \alpha, \angle B = \beta, \angle C = \gamma.$

We use the following Conway symbols:

$s = \frac {a+b+c}{2}$ is semiperimeter, $2S$ is twice the area of $\triangle ABC,$

$r^2 = \frac {(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}{s},$ where $r$ is the inradius, $R = \frac {abc}{2 \cdot 2S}$ is the circumradius,

$\cos \omega = \frac {a^2 + b^2 +c^2}{2 \cdot 2S}$ is the cosine of the Brocard angle,

$S_A = bc \cos \alpha = \frac{b^2+c^2-a^2}{2}, S_B = ac \cos \beta =\frac{a^2 +c^2-b^2}{2}, S_C = ab \cos \gamma = \frac {a^2+b^2-c^2}{2}.$

Main

For any point in the plane $ABC$ there are barycentric coordinates(BC): $\vec X = (x : y: z)$ : $x \cdot \vec {XA} + y \cdot \vec {YB} + z \cdot \vec {XC} = \vec {0},$ $\vec X = \frac {x \cdot \vec {A} + y \cdot \vec {B} + z \cdot \vec {C}}{x+y+z}.$ The normalized (absolute) barycentric coordinates NBC satisfy the condition $x + y + z = 1,$ they are uniquely determined: $x = \frac{[\vec {XB},\vec {XC}]}{\sigma}, y = \frac{[\vec {XC},\vec {XA}]}{\sigma}, z = \frac{[\vec {XA},\vec {XB}]}{\sigma},$ $\sigma = [\vec {XB},\vec {XC}] + [\vec {XC},\vec {XA}] + [\vec {XA},\vec {XB}] .$ Triangle vertices $A = (1:0:0), B = (0:1:0), C = (0:0:1).$

The barycentric coordinates of a point do not change under an affine transformation.

Lines

The straight line in barycentric coordinates (BC) is given by the equation $kx + ly + mz = 0.$

The lines given in the BC by the equations $k_1x + l_1y + m_1z = 0$ and $k_2x + l_2y + m_2z = 0$ intersect at the point $(l_1m_2 – m_1l_2 : m_1k_2-k_1m_2 : k_1l_2-l_1k_2).$

These lines are parallel iff $l_1m_2 – m_1l_2 + m_1k_2-k_1m_2 + k_1l_2-l_1k_2 = 0.$

The sideline $BC$ contains the points $B = (0:1:0), C = (0:0:1),$ its equation is $x = 0.$

The line $AX, X = (k : l : m)$ has equation $l z = m y,$ it intersects the sideline $BC$ at the point $A_X = (0 : l : m), \frac {BA_X}{A_XC} = \frac {m}{l}, \frac {AX}{XA_X} = \frac {m + l}{k}.$

Iff $A_X = (0 : l : m), B_X = (k : 0 : m ), C_X = (k : l : 0),$ then $AA_X \cap BB_X \cap CC_X = (k : l : m ).$

Let NBC of points $P$ and $Q$ be $P = (x_1 : y_1 : z_1), Q = (x_2 : y_2 : z_2).$

Then the square of distance $|PQ|^2 = S_A \cdot (x_1 - x_2)^2 + S_B(y_1 - y_2)^2 + S_C(z_1 - z_2)^2.$ $|PQ|^2 = - a^2 (y_1 - y_2)(z_1 - z_2) - b^2 (x_1 - x_2)(z_1 - z_2) - c^2 (x_1 - x_2)(y_1 - y_2).$ The equation of bisector of $PQ$ is: $x(c^2(y_2-y_1) + b^2(z_2-z_1)) + y(a^2(z_2-z_1) + c^2(x_2-x_1)) + z(a^2(y_2-y_1) + b^2(x_2-x_1)) + a^2(y_1z_1 - y_2z_2) + b^2(x_1z_1-x_2z_2) + c^2 (x_1y_1 – x_2y_2).$ Nagel line : $(b-c) x + (c-a) y + (a-b) z = 0.$

Circles

Any circle is given by an equation of the form $(kx + ly + mz)(x +y + z) = xyc^2 + xzb^2 + yza^2.$

Circumcircle contains the points $A = (1:0:0), B = (0:1:0), C = (0:0:1) \implies$ the equation of this circle: $xyc^2 + xzb^2 + yza^2.$

The incircle contains the tangent points of the incircle with the sides: $\left(0 : \frac {a+b-c}{2a} : \frac {a-b+c}{2a}\right), \left(\frac {a+b-c}{2b} : 0 : \frac {-a+b+c}{2b}\right), \left(\frac {a-b+c}{2c} : \frac {-a+b+c}{2c}\right).$

The equation of the incircle is ${k_a}^2x^2 + k_b^2y^2 + k_c^2z^2 - 2k_a k_b xy - 2k_a k_c xz - 2k_bk_cyz = 0,$ where $k_a = b+c - a, k_b = a+c - b, k_c = a + b - c.$

The radical axis of two circles given by equations of this form is: $k_1xa + l_1yb + m_1zc = k_2xa + l_2yb + m_2zc.$ Conjugate

The point $P = (x : y : z)$ is isotomically conjugate with respect to $\triangle ABC$ with the point $P_1 =\left( \frac {1}{x} : \frac {1}{y} : \frac {1}{z}\right).$

The point $P = (x : y : z)$ is isogonally conjugate with respect to $\triangle ABC$ with the point $P_2 =\left( \frac {a^2}{x} : \frac {b^2}{y} : \frac {c^2}{z}\right).$

The point $P = (x : y : z)$ is isocircular conjugate with respect to $\triangle ABC$ with the point $P_3 = \left(\frac {x}{a} : \frac {y}{b} : \frac {z}{c}\right).$

Triangle centers

The median $AA_G, A_G \in BC \implies \frac {BA_G}{CA_G} = 1 \implies$ centroid is $G = (1 : 1 : 1).$

The simmedian point $K$ is isogonally conjugate with respect to $\triangle ABC$ with the point $G \implies K = \left( a^2 : b^2 : c^2\right).$

The bisector $AA_I, A_I \in BC \implies \frac {BA_I}{CA_I} = \frac {c}{b} \implies$ the incenter is $I = (a : b: c).$

The excenters are $I_A = (-a : b : c), I_B =(a : -b: c), I_C = (a : b : -c).$

The circumcenter $O$ lies at the intersection of the bisectors $AB (c^2(x - y) + z(a^2 – b^2) =0)$ and $AC (b^2(x - z) + y(a^2 – c^2) =0) \implies$ its BC coordinates $O = (a^2S_A : b^2S_B : c^2S_C).$

The orthocenter $H$ is isogonally conjugate with respect to $\triangle ABC$ with the point $O \implies H =\left( \frac {1}{S_A} : \frac {1}{S_B} : \frac {1}{S_C}\right).$

Let Nagel point $N$ lies at line $AA_N, A_N \in BC \implies \frac {BA_N}{A_NC} = \frac {a+c-b}{a+b-c} \implies N=(b+c-a: a+c-b:a+b-c).$

The Gergonne point is the isotomic conjugate of the Nagel point, so $Ge=\left( \frac {1}{b+c-a} : \frac{1}{a+c-b} : \frac{1}{a+b-c}\right ).$

vladimir.shelomovskii@gmail.com, vvsss

Product of isogonal segments

Let triangle $\triangle ABC,$ the circumcircle $\Omega$ and isogonals $AF$ and $AG (F,G \in \Omega)$ of the $\angle BAC$ be given. Let point $P'$ and $Q'$ be the isogonal conjugate of a point $P$ and $Q$ with respect to $\triangle ABC.$ Prove that $PF \cdot P'G = Q'F \cdot QG.$

Proof

We fixed $\triangle ABC$ and the point $F.$ So isogonal $AG$ is fixed.

Denote $D = BC \cap AF, E = BC \cap AG.$

We need to prove that $PF \cdot P'G$ do not depends from $P.$

Line $AP$ has the equation $y_P z = z_P y \implies \frac {BD}{DC} = \frac {z_P}{y_P}.$

To find the point $F$ we solve the equation: $x_F y_P c^2 + x_F z_P b^2 + y_P z_P a^2 = 0.$

$F = (x_F : y_F : z_F) = \left(\frac{- a^2 y_P z_P}{c^2 y_P +b^2 z_P} : y_P : z_P \right).$ We use the formula for isogonal cobnjugate point and get $P' = (x_p : y_p : z_p) = \left(\frac {a^2}{x_P} : \frac {b^2}{y_P} : \frac {c^2}{z_P}\right)$ and then $\frac {BE}{EC} = \frac {c^2 y_P}{b^2 z_P}.$

To find the point $G$ we solve the equation: $x_G \cdot \frac {b^2}{y_P} \cdot c^2 + x_G \cdot \frac {c^2}{z_P} \cdot b^2 + \frac {b^2 c^2}{y_P \cdot z_P} \cdot a^2 = 0.$ $G = (x_G : y_G : z_G) = \left(\frac{- a^2}{y_p + z_p} : \frac {b^2}{y_p} : \frac {c^2}{z_p}\right).$ We calculate distances (using NBC) and get: $PF \cdot P'G = \frac {a^2 bc y_P z_P}{\psi},$ $FG = \frac {a|b^2 z_P^2 - c^2 y_P^2|}{\psi},$ where $\psi$ has sufficiently big formula.

Therefore $\frac {FG\cdot a\cdot c}{b\cdot PF \cdot P'G} = \left|\frac {z_P}{y_P} - \frac {c^2 y_P}{b^2 z_P}\right| = \left|\frac {BD}{DC}- \frac {BE}{EC}\right|. \blacksquare$ vladimir.shelomovskii@gmail.com, vvsss

Point on incircle

Let triangle $\triangle ABC$ be given. Denote the incicle $\omega,$ the incenter $I$ , the Spieker center $S, D = \omega \cap BC, E = \omega \cap AC.$

Let $D_1 \in \omega$ be the point corresponding to the condition $SD = SD_1, D_2 = AD_1 \cap BC, D_3$ is symmetric $D_2$ with respect midpoint $BC.$

Symilarly denote $E_3 \in AC.$

Prove that point $F = AD_3 \cap BE_3$ lies on $\omega.$

Proof $I = (a : b : c), S = (b+c : a +c : a+b),$ $D = \left(0 : a+b-c : a-b+c \right), D_1 = (x : y : z ).$ We calculate distances (using NBC) and solve the system of equations: $ID_1^2 = ID^2, SD_1^2 = SD^2.$

We know one solution of this system (point D), so we get linear equation and get: $D_1 = \left((b-c)^2 \cdot (3a-b-c)^2 : (a-b)^2 \cdot(b+c-a)\cdot(-b+a+c) : (a-c)^2\cdot(b+c-a) \cdot(b+a-c) \right) \implies$ $D_2 = \left(0 : (a-b)^2 \cdot(b+c-a) : (b-c)^2 \cdot(b+a-c) \right) \implies$ $D_3 = \left(0 : (b-c)^2 \cdot(b+a-c): (a-b)^2 \cdot(b+c-a) \right) .$ Similarly $E_3 = \left((b-c)^2 \cdot(b+a-c) : 0 : (a-b)^2 \cdot(b+c-a) \right) \implies$ Therefore $F = \left(\frac {(b-c)^2}{b+c-a} : \frac{(a-c)^2}{a+c-b} : \frac{(a-b)^2}{a+b-c}) \right).$ We calculate the length of the segment $FI$ and get $FI^2 = r^2.$

The author learned about the existence of such a point from Leonid Shatunov in August 2023.

vladimir.shelomovskii@gmail.com, vvsss

Crossing point

Let triangle $\triangle ABC,$ and points $P$ and $D \in BC$ be given. Let point $P'$ be the isogonal conjugate of a point $P$ with respect to a triangle $\triangle ABC, \Omega = \odot ABC.$ Let $X$ be an arbitrary point at $AP', Y = DX \cap AP, Q = DP' \cap AP,$ $Q' = DP \cap AP', E = \odot DP'Q' \cap \Omega, F = \odot DPQ \cap \Omega.$ Prove that $EX \cap FY$ lies on $\Omega.$

This configuration can be used as a straight-line mechanism since it allows to create a mechanism that converts the rotational motion of a point Z to perfect straight-line motion of the X point or vice versa. Of course, we need to use the prismatic joint at the points $E$ and $F.$

Proof

We use the barycentric coordinates: $P = (x_P : y_P : z_P), D = (0 : y_D : z_D),$ $X = \left ( x_X : \frac {b^2}{y_P} : \frac {c^2}{z_P} \right), P' = \left (\frac {a^2}{x_P} : \frac {b^2}{y_P} : \frac {c^2}{z_P} \right).$ We get the equations for some lines:

Line $AP$ is $z_P \cdot y – y_P \cdot z = 0,$

line $AP'$ is $y_P \cdot y – z_P \cdot z = 0,$

line $DX$ is $\frac {c^2 y_P y_D - b^2 z_P z_D}{x_X y_P z_P} \cdot x + z_D \cdot y - y_D \cdot z = 0,$

line $DP$ is $(z_D y_P - y_D z_P ) \cdot x - z_D x_P \cdot y + y_D x_P \cdot z = 0,$

line $DP'$ is $\left( \frac {b^2 z_D}{y_P}- \frac{c^2 y_D}{z_P}\right) \cdot x - \frac {a^2 z_D}{x_P}\cdot y + \frac{a^2 y_D}{x_P} \cdot z = 0.$

We get the equations for some points:

point $Q$ is $(x_Q : y_Q : z_Q) = \left( \frac {a^2 y_P z_P (z_P y_D - y_P z_D)}{x_P (c^2 y_P y_D - b^2 z_P z_D)} : y_P : z_P \right),$

point $Q'$ is $\left( \frac {a^2}{x_Q} : \frac{b^2}{y_Q} : \frac{c^2}{z_Q} \right),$

point $Y$ is $\left( \frac {x_X y_P z_P ( y_D z_P - y_P z_D)}{c^2 y_D y_P – b^2 z_P z_D} : y_P : z_P \right).$

Any circle is given by an equation of the form $(kx + ly + mz)(x +y + z) = xyc^2 + xzb^2 + yza^2.$ We find the coefficients for the circles (these formulas are big), but can be used for calculations of the crossing points: $E = \left( a^2 : b^2 (\frac {z_P y_D}{y_P z_D} - 1) : c^2 (\frac {y_P z_D}{z_P y_D} - 1 \right),$ $F = \left( a^2 : -b^2 + c^2 \frac {y_P y_D}{z_P z_D} : b^2 \frac {z_P z_D}{y_P y_D} - c^2 \right),$ We get the equations for some lines $EX$ and $FY$ : $(y_D + z_D) \cdot (y_D z_P - y_P z_D)\cdot x + \frac{y_P z_D ((y_P z_D - y_D z_P) x_X + y_D a^2}{b^2}\cdot y + \frac {(y_P z_D - y_D z_P) x_X + a^2 z_D ) z_P y_D}{c^2} \cdot z = 0,$

$(y_D + z_D)(c^2 y_D y_P - b^2 z_D z_P) x + ((y_P z_D - y_D z_P) x_X - y_D a^2) z_D z_P y + y_D y_P(y_P z_D - y_D z_P) x_X + a^2 z_D) z = 0.$ We get the equation for the point $Z$ $\left(\frac {1}{y_D + z_D} : \frac {b^2}{ x_X (y_P z_D - z_P y_D) - a^2 y_D} :\frac {c^2}{x_X (z_P y_D - y_P z_D) - a^2 z_D} \right).$ Let point $Z'$ be the isogonal conjugate of a point $Z$ with respect to a triangle $\triangle ABC.$ $Z' = \left(a^2 (y_D + z_D) : x_X (y_P z_D - z_P y_D) - a^2 y_D : x_X (z_P y_D - y_P z_D) - a^2 z_D \right).$ The sum of coordinates is equal zero, so $Z'$ is in infinity, therefore the point $Z$ lies on $\Omega.\blacksquare$

vladimir.shelomovskii@gmail.com, vvsss

Two pare isogonal points

Let triangle $\triangle ABC,$ and points $P$ and $Q$ (these points do not lie on sidelines) be given.

Let point $P'$ and $Q'$ be the isogonal conjugate of a point $P$ and $Q$ with respect to a triangle $\triangle ABC, \Omega = \odot ABC.$

Denote $R = PQ \cap P'Q', E = \Omega \cap RPQ', F = \Omega \cap RQP'.$

Prove that $L= EP \cap FQ$ and $K = EQ' \cap FP'$ lies on $\Omega.$

Proof

The line $PQ$ is $(y_P z_Q - z_P y_Q) x + (x_Q z_P – x_P z_Q) y + (x_P y_Q - x_Q y_P)z = 0.$ The line $P'Q'$ is $(y_P z_Q - z_P y_Q) \frac {x_P x_Q}{a^2} x + (x_Q z_P – x_P z_Q) \frac {y_P y_Q}{b^2}y + (x_P y_Q - x_Q y_P) \frac {z_P z_Q}{c^2}z = 0.$ $R = PQ \cap P'Q' = \left ( a^2 \frac {(b^2 z_P z_Q – c^2 y_P y_Q)}{y_P z_Q – z_P y_Q} : b^2 \frac {(a^2 z_P z_Q – c^2 x_P x_Q)}{x_P z_Q – z_P x_Q} : c^2 \frac {(a^2 y_P y_Q – b^2 x_P x_Q)}{x_P y_Q – y_P x_Q} \right)$ $E = \Omega \cap RPQ' = \left( \frac {a^2}{x_Q (z_P y_Q – y_P z_Q)} : \frac {b^2}{y_Q (x_P z_Q – z_P y_Q)} : \frac {c^2}{z_Q (y_P x_Q – x_P y_Q)} \right).$ $F = \Omega \cap RP'Q = \left( \frac {a^2}{x_P (z_P y_Q – y_P z_Q)} : \frac {b^2}{y_P (x_P z_Q – z_P y_Q)} : \frac {c^2}{z_P (y_P x_Q – x_P y_Q)} \right).$ $K = EQ' \cap FP' = \left( \frac {a^2}{x_Q (y_P + z_P) - x_P (y_Q + z_Q)} : \frac {b^2}{y_Q (x_P + z_P) - y_P (z_Q + x_Q)} : \frac {c^2}{z_Q (x_P + y_P) - z_P (x_Q + y_Q)} \right).$ Denote $K'$ is the isogonal conjugate of a point $K$ with respect to $\triangle ABC.$ $K' = \left( x_Q (y_P + z_P) - x_P (y_Q + z_Q) : y_Q (x_P + z_P) – y_P (z_Q + x_Q) : z_Q (x_P + y_P) – z_P (x_Q + y_Q) \right).$ $x_{K'} + y_{K'} + z_{K'} = 0 \implies K \in \Omega.$ If we use NBC, we get $K = \left( \frac {a^2}{x_Q - x_P} : \frac {b^2}{y_Q - y_P } : \frac {c^2}{z_Q - z_P } \right) \implies K' = (x_Q - x_P : y_Q - y_P : z_Q - z_P).$ $L = EP \cap FQ = \left( \frac {1}{\frac {b^2} {x_Q y_P} - \frac {b^2} {x_P y_Q}+ \frac {c^2} {x_Q z_P}- \frac {c^2} {x_Q z_P}} : \frac {1}{\frac {a^2} {x_Q y_P} - \frac {a^2} {x_P y_Q}+ \frac {c^2} {z_Q y_P}- \frac {c^2} {y_Q z_P}} : \frac {1}{\frac {a^2} {x_Q z_P} - \frac {a^2} {x_P z_Q}+ \frac {b^2} {y_Q z_P}- \frac {b^2} {y_P z_Q}} \right).$ $x_{L'} + y_{L'} + z_{L'} = 0 \implies L \in \Omega. \blacksquare$ vladimir.shelomovskii@gmail.com, vvsss

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Barycentric coordinates

Contents

Useful formulas

Product of isogonal segments

Point on incircle

Crossing point

Two pare isogonal points