b

Forum Geometricorum
Volume 17 (2017) 289–300. b b

FORUM GEOM
ISSN 1534-1178

On the Feuerbach Triangle

Dasari Naga Vijay Krishna

Abstract. We study the relations among the Feuerbach points of a triangle and
the feet of the angle bisectors. From these points we construct 6 points, pairwise
on the three sides of the triangle, which lie on a conic. In addition, we also
establish some collinearity and perspectivity results.

1. Perspectivity of Feuerbach and incentral triangles

In this note we prove some interesting properties of the Feuerbach points of a
triangle. Recall that by the famous Feuerbach theorem, the nine-point circle of a
triangle is tangent internally to the incircle and externally to each of the excircles.
The points of tangency are the Feuerbach points. If a triangle ABC has side lengths
BC = a, CA = b, AB = c, its incenter and the excenters are the points
I = (a : b : c), Ia = (−a : b : c), Ib = (a : −b : c), Ic = (a : b : −c)
in homogeneous barycentric coordinates with reference to ABC. On the other
hand, the nine-point center is the point
N = (a2 (b2 +c2 )−(b2 −c2 )2 : b2 (C 2 +a2 )−(c2 −a2 )2 : c2 (a2 +b2 )−(a2 −b2 )2 ).
From the formulas for the circumradius R and the inradius r
abc 2∆
R= and r =
4∆ a+b+c
in terms of a, b, c, and the area ∆ of the triangle, we obtain the coordinates of the
Feuerbach points.
Proposition 1. The nine-point circle is tangent to the incircle at
Fe = ((b − c)2 (b + c − a) : (c − a)2 (c + a − b) : (a − b)2 (a + b − c)),
and to the A-, B-, C-excircles respectively at
Fa = (−(b − c)2 (a + b + c) : (c + a)2 (a + b − c) : (a + b)2 (c + a − b)),
Fb = ((b + c)2 (a + b − c) : −(c − a)2 (a + b + c) : (a + b)2 (b + c − a)),
Fc = ((b + c)2 (c + a − b) : (c + a)2 (b + c − a) : −(a − b)2 (a + b + c)).
We call Fa Fb Fc the Feuerbach triangle.

Publication Date: June 19, 2017. Communicating Editor: Paul Yiu.

The author thanks Editor Paul Yiu for his help in the preparation of this paper.
290 D. N. V. Krishna

Zc

Yb
Ib
A
Ic Fb
FcZ N Y

Fe I
Xa B X Fa C

Ia

Figure 1

We also consider the intersections of the angle bisectors with the sides. Let
the internal and external bisectors of angle A intersect the line BC at X and Xa
respectively. Similarly define Y , Yb , Z, Zc as the intersections of the internal and
external bisectors of angles B and C with their opposite sides (see Figure 1). In
homogeneous barycentric coordinates,

X = (0 : b : c) Xa = (0 : b : −c)
Y = (a : 0 : c) Yb = (−a : 0 : c)
Z = (a : b : c) Zc = (a : −b : 0)

We call XY Z the incentral triangle.

On the Feuerbach triangle 291

Line Equation
YZ − xa + yb + zc = 0
x y z
ZX a − b + c =0
x y z
XY a + b − c =0
Fe Fa (b2 − bc + c2 − a2 )x + c(b − c)y − b(b − c)z = 0
Fe Fb −c(c − a)x + (c2 − ca + a2 − b2 )y + a(c − a)z = 0
Fe Fc b(a − b)x − a(a − b)y + (a2 − ab + b2 − c2 )z = 0
Fb Fc −(b2 + bc + c2 − a2 )x + c(b + c)y + b(b + c)z = 0
Fc Fa c(c + a)x − (c2 + ca + a2 − b2 )y + a(c + a)z − 0
Fa Fb b(a + b)x + a(a + b)y − (a2 + ab + b2 − c2 )z = 0
Table 1. Equations of lines.
From the equations of the lines in Table 1, it is clear that
The line Y Z ZX XY Fe Fa Fe Fb Fe Fc Fb Fc Fc Fa Fa Fb
contains Xa Yb Zc X Y Z Xa Yb Zc
Table 2: Incidence of points and lines.
x y z
Note that Xa , Yb , Zc are collinear on a + b + c = 0, the trilinear polar of
I = (a : b : c).
Proposition 2. The triangles Fa Fb Fc and XY Z are perspective at Fe and has
perspectrix the trilinear polar of I = (a : b : c).

Ib

A
Fb
Ic
Fc N Y
Z I

Fe

B X C
Fa

Figure 2
292 D. N. V. Krishna

Proof. From Table 2, the lines Fa X, Fb Y , Fc Z are concurrent at the Feuerbach

point Fe . This means that the triangles Fa Fb Fc and XY Z are perspective at Fe
(see Figure 2).
By Desargues’ theorem, the two triangles Fa Fb Fc and XY Z are also line per-
spective. This means that the three points
Fb Fc ∩ Y Z, Fa Fc ∩ XZ, Fa Fb ∩ XY
are collinear. From Table 2, these are respectively the points Xa , Yb , Zc , they are
collinear on the trilinear polar of I. This is the perspectrix of the triangles. 
Proposition 3. The following pairs of triangles are perspective.
Triangle Triangle Perspector Perspectrix
(i) Fe Fc Fb XYb Zc Fa YZ
(ii) Fc Fe Fa Xa Y Zc Fb ZX
(iii) Fb Fa Fe Xa Yb Z Fc XY
Proof. We shall (i) only.
From Table 2, it is clear that the lines Fe X, Fc Yb , Fb Zc concur at Fa . Also,
Fc Fb ∩ Yb Zc = Xa , Fb Fe ∩ Zc X = Y, Fe Fc ∩ XYb = Z.
This shows that the line Y Z is the perspectrix of the triangles Fe Fc Fb and XYb Zc .


2. Similarity of the Feuerbach and incentral triangles

Proposition 4. Triangles Fa Fb Fc and XY Z are similar.
Proof. We show that
Fb Fc Fc Fa Fa Fb
= = . (1)
YZ ZX XY
For the feet Y , Z of the bisectors of angles B, C, we have, by applying the law
of cosines to triangle AY Z,

Y Z 2 = AY 2 + AZ 2 − 2 · AY · AZ cos A
2  2
b2 + c2 − a2

bc cb bc cb
= + −2· · ·
c+a b+a c+a b+a 2bc
bc 2 2 2 2 2


= bc((a + b) + (c + a) ) − (c + a)(a + b)(b + c − a )
(c + a)2 (a + b)2
bc
= bc(2a(a + b + c) + (b2 + c2 )) − (c + a)(a + b)(b2 + c2 )
(c + a) (a + b)2
2

+a2 (c + a)(a + b))

bc
= 2abc(a + b + c) − a(a + b + c)(b2 + c2 )
(c + a) (a + b)2
2

+a3 (a + b + c) + a2 bc)


On the Feuerbach triangle 293

abc
(a + b + c) 2bc − (b2 + c2 ) + a2 + abc)



= 2 2
(c + a) (a + b)
abc
= ((a + b + c)(a − b + c)(a + b − c) + abc))
(c + a)2 (a + b)2
4∆R
= (8∆ra + 4∆R)
(c + a)2 (a + b)2
16∆2
= · R(R + 2ra )
(c + a)2 (a + b)2
16∆2 · OIa2
= .
(c + a)2 (a + b)2
4∆·OIa abc·OIa
Therefore, Y Z = (c+a)(a+b)R = (c+a)(a+b)R . From [7, Theorem 3], Fb Fc =
(b+c)R2
OIb ·OIc . It follows that

Fb Fc (b + c)R2 (c + a)(a + b)R (b + c)(c + a)(a + b)R3

= · = .
YZ OIb · OIc abc · OIa abc · OIa · OIb · OIc
Since this ratio is symmetric in a, b, c, it is also equal to FZX
c Fa
and FXY
a Fb
. This
proves (1), and we conclude that triangles Fa Fb Fc and XY Z are similar. 

H H
Ib Ib
A A
Fc Fb Fc
Ic Ic Fb
Y Y
Z G Z G
Ki X
Ki
B XF C B C
a Fa

Figure 3A Figure 3B

Remark. In fact, the similarity of triangles Fa Fb Fc and XY Z is direct. This means

that there is a center of similarity P such that
∆P Fb Fc : ∆P Fc Fa : ∆P Fa Fb = ∆P Y Z : ∆P ZX : ∆P XY.
In this case, the center of similarity is the Kiepert center
Ki = ((b2 − c2 )2 : (c2 − a2 )2 : (a2 − b2 )2 )
294 D. N. V. Krishna

(which is the center of the Kiepert circum-hyperbola through the orthocenter H

and the centroid G of triangle ABC) is a center of similarity (see Figures 3A and
3B). For notational convenience, let

Σ := a4 + b4 + c4 − b2 c2 − c2 a2 − a2 b2 , (2)
F (u, v, w) := uvw + (u + v + w)(w + u − v)(u + v − w). (3)

Note that the coordinate sum of Ki is 2Σ, and F is symmetric in v and w. Now,

(a − b)(a − c)(b + c)F (a, b, c)

∆Ki Y Z = ,
2(c + a)(a + b)Σ
abc(a − b)(a − c)(b + c)3 (c + a)(a + b)
∆Ki Fb Fc = .
2F (b, c, a)F (c, a, b)Σ
From this,
∆Ki Fb Fc abc(b + c)2 (c + a)2 (a + b)2
=
∆Ki Y Z F (a, b, c)F (b, c, a)F (c, a, b)
is symmetric in a, b, c. This means that

∆Ki Fb Fc : ∆Ki Fc Fa : ∆Ki Fa Fb = ∆Ki Y Z : ∆Ki ZX : ∆Ki XY,

and the triangles Fa Fb Fc and XY Z are directly similarly with Ki as a center of

similarity.

3. The Feuerbach conic

We consider the points at which the sidelines of the Feuerbach triangle intersect
the sidelines of triangle ABC:

Xb = BC ∩ Fc Fa Xc = BC ∩ Fa Fb
Ya = CA ∩ Fb Fc Yc = CA ∩ Fa Fb
Za = AB ∩ Fb Fc Zb = AB ∩ Fc Fa

Proposition 5. The six points Xb , Xc , Yc , Ya , Za , Zb lie on a conic.

Proof. Since the four points Fb , Ya , Za , Fc are collinear, and the line Fb Fc passes
through Xa , so does the line Ya Za . Similarly, the lines Zb Xb passes through Yb
and Xc Yc through Zc . Furthermore, the points Xa , Yb , Zc are collinear, being on
the trilinear polar of the incenter I. It follows from Pascal’s theorem that the six
points Xb , Xc , Yc , Ya , Za , Zb are on a conic (see Figure 4). 

We call the conic through these six points the Feuerbach conic of triangle ABC.
Proposition 5 is true when the Feuerbach triangle is replaced by any triangle per-
spective with ABC.
On the Feuerbach triangle 295

Zb

Yb
Ib

A
Ya
Fb
Ic
Fc Za
N Yc
Zb
XbXc
Xa B C
Fa

Figure 4

From the equations of the lines given in Table 1, we determine the coordinates
of the points in Proposition 5:

Xb = (0 : a(c + a) : c2 + a2 − b2 + ca);
Xc = (0 : a2 + b2 − c2 + ab : a(a + b)),
Yc = (a2 + b2 − c2 + ab : 0 : b(a + b));
Ya = (b(b + c) : 0 : b2 + c2 − a2 + bc),
Za = (c(b + c) : b2 + c2 − a2 + bc : 0),
Zb = (c2 + a2 − b2 + ca : c(c + a) : 0).

Proposition 6. The barycentric equation of the Feuerbach conic is

X b2 + bc + c2 − a2 (a + b + c)(b − c)2 (b + c) − 2a2 (c + a)(a + b)

x2 + yz = 0.
b+c a(c + a)(a + b)
cyclic
(4)
296 D. N. V. Krishna

Proof. With x = 0, equation (4) becomes

c2 + ca + a2 − b2 2 a2 + ab + b2 − c2 2
0= y + z
c+a a+b
(a + b + c)(b − c)2 (b + c) − 2a2 (c + a)(a + b)
+ yz
a(c + a)(a + b)
a(a + b)(c2 + ca + a2 − b2 )y 2 + a(c + a)(a2 + ab + b2 − c2 )z 2
 
+((a + b + c)(b − c)2 (b + c) − 2a2 (c + a)(a + b))yz
=
a(c + a)(a + b)
The numerator factors as
((c2 + ca + a2 − b2 )y − a(c + a)z)(a(a + b)y − (a2 + ab + b2 − c2 )z)
since the coefficient of yz in this product is equal to
− a2 (c + a)(a + b) − (c2 + ca + a2 − b2 )(a2 + ab + b2 − c2 )
= a2 (c + a)(a + b) − (c2 + ca + a2 − b2 )(a2 + ab + b2 − c2 ) − 2a2 (c + a)(a + b)
= a2 (c + a)(a + b) − (a(c + a) − (b2 − c2 ))(a(a + b) + (b2 − c2 ))
− 2a2 (c + a)(a + b)
= a(a + b)(b2 − c2 ) − a(c + a)(b2 − c2 ) + (b2 − c2 )2 − 2a2 (c + a)(a + b)
= (a(a + b) − a(c + a) + (b2 − c2 ))(b2 − c2 ) − 2a2 (c + a)(a + b)
= (a(b − c) + (b2 − c2 ))(b2 − c2 ) − 2a2 (c + a)(a + b)
= (a + b + c)(b − c)2 (b + c) − 2a2 (c + a)(a + b).
This means that the conic defined by (4) intersects the line BC at the points
(0 : a(c + a) : c2 + ca + a2 − b2 ) and (0 : a2 + ab + b2 − c2 : a(a + b)).
These are the points Xb and Xc .
Similarly the conic intersects CA at Yc , Ya , and AB at Za , Zb . It is therefore
the Feuerbach conic. 
Remark. The coordinates of the center of a conic with known barycentric equation
can be computed using the formula in [11, §10.7.2]. For the Feuerbach conic, the
center has homogeneous barycentric coordinates
(bc(b + c)2 g(a, b, c) : ca(c + a)2 g(b, c, a) : ab(a + b)2 g(c, a, b))
for a polynomial g(u, v, w) of degree 10 symmetric in v and w. It has ETC-(6,9,13)
search number 1.93698582914 . . . .

4. Some collinearity and perspectivity results

Proposition 7. The points
Va := BYc ∩ CZb , Vb := CZa ∩ AXc , Vc := AXb ∩ BYa
are collinear and the triangles ABC and Va Vb Vc are perspective.
On the Feuerbach triangle 297

Ib

A
Ya Fb
Za
Ic Vc
Fc V
Yc
Zb Vb

Va
Xb Xc

B C
Fa

Figure 5

Proof. The lines BYc and CZb have barycentric equations

−b(a + b)x +(a2 + ab + b2 − c2 )z = 0,
2 2 2
−c(c + a)x +(c + ca + a − b )y = 0.
They intersect at the point
 
c(c + a) b(a + b)
Va = 1 : 2 :
c + ca + a2 − b2 a2 + ab + b2 − c2
 
1 c+a a+b
= : : .
bc b(c2 + ca + a2 − b2 ) c(a2 + ab + b2 − c2 )
Similarly,
Vb = CZa ∩ AXc
 
b+c 1 a+b
= : : ,
a(b2 + bc + c2 − a2 ) ca c(a2 + ab + b2 − c2 )
Vc = AXb ∩ BYa
 
b+c c+a 1
= : : .
a(b2 + bc + c2 − a2 ) b(c2 + ca + a2 − b2 ) ab
From these coordinates, it is clear that triangles Va Vb Vc is perspective with ABC
at
 
b+c c+a a+b
V = : : .
a(b2 + bc + c2 − a2 ) b(c2 + ca + a2 − b2 ) c(a2 + ab + b2 − c2 )
(5)
298 D. N. V. Krishna

The three points Va , Vb , Vc are collinear. The line containing them has barycen-
tric equation X
(b − c)(b2 + bc + c2 − a2 )x = 0, (6)
cyclic
This line is the perspectrix of the triangles ABC and Va Vb Vc . 
Remarks. (1) The perspector V given in (5) is the triangle center X(6757) of [5].
It lies on the perpendicular to the Euler line at the nine-point center:
X
a2 (b2 + bc + c2 − a2 )(b2 − bc + c2 − a2 )x = 0.
cyclic

(2) The perspectrix (the line Va Vb Vc ) contains, among others, the triangle centers
 
1
• X(79) = b2 +bc+c 2 −a2 : · · · : · · · , which is the perspector of ABC and
the reflection triangle of the incenter, 
a
• X(2160) = b2 +bc+c 2 −a2 : · · · : · · · , which is the perspector of ABC

and the triangle bounded by the radical axes of the circumcircle with the
circles tangent to two sides of the reference triangle and center on the third
side (see Figure 6).
Proof. These circles have barycentric equations
4(b + c)2 (a2 yz + b2 zx + c2 xy) − (x + y + z)×
((a + b + c)2 (b + c − a)2 x + (c2 + a2 − b2 )2 y + (a2 + b2 − c2 )2 z) = 0,
4(c + a)2 (a2 yz + b2 zx + c2 xy) − (x + y + z)×
((b2 + c2 − a2 )2 x + (a + b + c)2 (c + a − b)2 y + (a2 + b2 − c2 )2 z) = 0,
4(a + b)2 (a2 yz + b2 zx + c2 xy) − (x + y + z)×
((b2 + c2 − a2 )2 x + (c2 + a2 − b2 )2 y + (a + b + c)2 (a + b − c)2 z) = 0.
Their radical axes with the circumcircle are the lines
(a + b + c)2 (b + c − a)2 x + (c2 + a2 − b2 )2 y + (a2 + b2 − c2 )2 z
= 0,
(b + c)2
(b2 + c2 − a2 )2 x + (a + b + c)2 (c + a − b)2 y + (a2 + b2 − c2 )2 z
= 0,
(c + a)2
(b2 + c2 − a2 )2 x + (c2 + a2 − b2 )2 y + (a + b + c)2 (a + b − c)2 z
= 0.
(a + b)2
These lines bound a triangle with vertices
 
′ b c
A = f (a, b, c) : 2 : ,
c + ca + a2 − b2 a2 + ab + b2 − c2
 
′ a c
B = : f (b, c, a) : 2 ,
b2 + bc + c2 − a2 a + ab + b2 − c2
 
a b
C′ = : : f (c, a, b) ,
b2 + bc + c2 − a2 c2 + ca + a2 − b2
On the Feuerbach triangle 299

where
F (u, v, w)((u + v + w)(u3 − (v + w)(v − w)2 ) + 2u2 vw)
f (u, v, w) := ,
(v 2 + w2 − u2 )2 (w2 + wu + u2 − v 2 )(u2 + uv + v 2 − w2 )
and F is defined in (3). From the coordinates of A′ , B ′ , C ′ , it is clear that
ABC and A′ B ′ C ′ are perspective at
 
a b c
: : .
b2 + bc + c2 − a2 c2 + ca + a2 − b2 a2 + ab + b2 − a2


A′
A

Z Y

X(2160) I

C
X
′
B
B

C′

Figure 6

(3) On the other hand, the points

BYa ∩ CZa , CZb ∩ AXb , and AXc ∩ BYc
are on the bisectors of angles A, B, C respectively, as is easily verified.

References
[1] Lev Emelyanov and Tatiana Emelyanova, Around of Feet of Bisectors, Introduction, Some
theoretical facts.
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[3] Lev Emelyanov and Tatiana Emelyanova, Around the Feet of Bisectors, Main problems, Using
solutions by Bazhov I. and Chekalkin S.
[4] Lev Emelyanov and Tatiana Emelyanova, A Note on the Feuerbach Point, Forum Geom., 1
(2001) 121–124.
[5] C. Kimberling, Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers, available at
http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/encyclopedia/ETC.html.
300 D. N. V. Krishna

[6] S. N. Kiss, A Distance Property of the Feuerbach Point and Its Extension, Forum Geom., 16
(2016) 283–290.
[7] S. N. Kiss, Distances Among the Feuerbach Points, Forum Geom., 16 (2016) 373–379.
[8] T. Kodera, New proofs of two theorems concerning the Feuerbach point of the triangle, Tohoku
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[9] M. Palej, A simple proof for the theorems of Pascal and Pappus, Journal for Geometry and
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[10] I. F. Sharygin. Problems in plane Geometry, problem 586 (in Russian), mir publications.
[11] P. Yiu, Introduction to the Geometry of the Triangle, Florida Atlantic University Lecture Notes,
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http://math.fau.edu/Yiu/Geometry.html.

Dasari Naga Vijay Krishna: Department of Mathematics, Narayana Educational Institutions, Machili-
patnam, Bengalore, India
E-mail address: vijay9290009015@gmail.com