A Further Generalization of The Fermat-Torricelli Point

Published in Mathematical Gazette, pp. 14-16, March 1999.
All rights reserved by the
Mathematical Association.
A further generalization
of the Fermat-Torricelli point
Michael de Villiers
Mathematics Education
University of Durban-Westville
South Africa
e-mail: [email protected]
An interesting generalization for the Fermat-Torricelli point of a triangle

involves changing the equilateral triangles on the sides as follows (a proof is
given in [1]):
Theorem 1
If triangles DBA, ECB and FAC are constructed (outwardly or inwardly) on the sides
of any triangle ABC so that ∠DAB = ∠CAF , ∠DBA = ∠CBE and ∠ECB = ∠FCA then
lines DC, EA and FB are concurrent.
A corollary to Theorem 1 which shows that in a sense it is really only a

generalization of Ceva's theorem, is that
AD BE CF
× × = 1.
DB EC FA
Recently the following different generalization of the Fermat-Torricelli point was

proved (amongst other properties) in [2] by using complex numbers:
Theorem 2
If L1 and L2 , M1 and M2 , and N1 and N2 are pairs of points respectively on the
sides BC, CA and AB of any triangle ABC such that
BL1 CL2 CM1 AM2 AN1 BN2
= = = = = ,
L1C L2 B M1 A M2 C N1 B N2 A
DN1 N2 , XN 2 L1 , EL1 L2 , YL2 M1 , FM1 M2 and ZM2 N1 are
and equilateral triangles are
constructed (outwardly or inwardly) on the sides of the hexagon N1 N2 L1 L2 M1 M2 ,
then lines DY, EZ and FX are concurrent.
(Notes: (1) In [2] the unnecessary restrictions are given that the ratios in which
the pairs of points divide the sides of triangle ABC must be smaller than 1, and that
the equilateral triangles need to be constructed outwardly. (2) This result is also
true if the pairs of points lie on the extensions of the sides of triangle ABC
provided that the three triangles with outer vertices X, Y and Z are oppositely
Published in Mathematical Gazette, pp. 14-16, March 1999. All rights reserved by the
situated to the three triangles with outer vertices D, E and F; eg. if the former are
inwardly then the latter must be outwardly, or vice versa).
Interestingly, the above two results can be combined to provide the following
further generalization:
Theorem 3
If L1 and L2 , M1 and M2 , and N1 and N2 are pairs of points respectively on the
sides BC, CA and AB of any triangle ABC such that
BL1 CL2 CM1 AM2 AN1 BN2
= = = = = ,
L1C L2 B M1 A M2 C N1 B N2 A
and triangles DN1 N2 , XN 2 L1 , EL1 L2 , YL2 M1 , FM1 M2 and ZM2 N1 are constructed
(outwardly or inwardly) on the sides of the hexagon N1 N2 L1 L2 M1 M2 so that
∠DN1 N2 = ∠M1 M2 F = ∠XL1 N2 = ∠YL2 M1 , ∠DN2 N1 = ∠L2 L1 E = ∠YM1 L2 = ∠ZM2 N1 and
∠EL2 L1 = ∠FM1 M2 = ∠ZN1 M2 = ∠XN 2 L1 , then lines DY, EZ and FX are concurrent.
Proof
The proof is surprisingly simple. Consider Figure 1. From the given ratios
AM2 AN1 BN2 CM1
= and = , it respectively follows that N1 M2 / / BC and
M2 C N1 B N2 A M1 A
N2 M1 / / BC , and therefore N1 M2 / / N2 M1 / / BC . Similarly, N2 L1 / / N1 L2 / / AC and
M1 L2 / / M2 L1 / / AB . The following pairs of opposite triangles are therefore
homothetic (corresponding sides parallel and similar): ∆DN1 N2 and ∆YL2 M1 ,
∆EL1 L2 and ∆ZM2 N1 , and ∆FM1 M2 and ∆XN2 L1 . Thus the lines connecting the
corresponding vertices of these pairs of homothetic triangles are respectively
concurrent at the points R, P and Q. From the parallelness of corresponding sides it
now follows that triangles PQR and M2 QM1 are similar and that the similarity with
center Q which maps triangle M2 QM1 to triangle PQR also maps point F to point F'
(on line QF). Therefore triangles F'PR and FM2 M1 are similar. In the same way
triangles D'PQ and E'QR , respectively similar to triangles DN1 N2 and EL1 L2 (and
with D' and E' respectively on lines RD and PE), can be constructed. From Theorem
1, it now follows that lines D'R, E'P and F'Q are concurrent, and thus also lines DY,
EZ and FX.
From the corollary in Theorem 1 and the similarity of the pairs of opposite
triangles, the following corollary also holds:
N1 D N2 X L1 E L2 Y M1 F M2 Z
× × × × × = 1.
DN2 XL1 EL2 YM1 FM2 ZN1
References
Published in Mathematical Gazette, pp. 14-16, March 1999. All rights reserved by the
[1] M. de Villiers, A generalization of the Fermat-Torricelli point. The

Mathematical Gazette, Vol 79, No 485 (July 1995), 374-378.
[2] A generalization of Napoleon's theorem. (Problem 1493 proposed by J.
Fukuta; published solution by O. Lossers). Mathematics Magazine, Vol 70, No
1 (Feb 1997), 70-73.
A Z
F'
N1 M2
c b
a
a
D P
D'
b c
M1
N2 Q
R b
c
Y
a
a
B L1 b c L2 C
X E'
Figure 1

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Published in Mathematical Gazette, pp. 14-16, March 1999.

All rights reserved by the

An interesting generalization for the Fermat-Torricelli point of a triangle

A corollary to Theorem 1 which shows that in a sense it is really only a

Recently the following different generalization of the Fermat-Torricelli point was

then lines DY, EZ and FX are concurrent.

[1] M. de Villiers, A generalization of the Fermat-Torricelli point. The

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