INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMETRY

Vol. 8 (2019), No. 1, 5 - 21

CHARACTERIZATIONS OF CYCLIC
QUADRILATERALS

MARTIN JOSEFSSON

Abstract. Cyclic quadrilaterals have many famous properties, that is,

necessary conditions. However, what is not so well-known is that most of
their properties are also sufficient conditions for such quadrilaterals to exist.
In this paper we prove 19 characterizations of convex cyclic quadrilaterals.

1. Introduction
If a quadrilateral is inscribed into a circle so that all four vertices lie
on the circle, it is most often referred to as a cyclic quadrilateral and the
vertices are said to be concyclic. This circle is called the circumcircle and
its center, which is equidistant from the vertices, is called the circumcenter.
Other names that have been used for this class of quadrilaterals are inscribed
quadrilateral, concyclic quadrilateral and chordal quadrilateral.
In textbooks covering Euclidean geometry and on mathematical problem
solving websites, necessary conditions of cyclic quadrilaterals are often given
in theorems and exercises. Then it is assumed that the quadrilateral is
cyclic and a relation between angles or lines or distances shall be proved.
In contrast to what many textbook authors and problem creators seem to
realize or care about, it is common also for the converse theorem to be
true. This means that if the relation we just referred to holds in a convex
quadrilateral, then it can be concluded that it is a cyclic quadrilateral.
In this paper we shall prove 19 such necessary and sufficient conditions.
Many of these are not so well known, and several are probably previously
unknown characterizations. We have references for all of the direct theorems
except for three; it is the converses for about half of the conditions that we
consider to be new. In fact, it’s very difficult to find any textbook, paper,
or website covering more than just three necessary and sufficient conditions
for cyclic quadrilaterals. Thus collecting a large number of characterizations
of cyclic quadrilaterals with proofs is the primary goal for this paper. ——

——————————–
Keywords and phrases: Cyclic quadrilateral, Convex quadrilateral,
Characterization, Necessary and sufficient condition, Converse
(2010)Mathematics Subject Classification: 51M04
Received: 10.01.2019. In revised form: 20.02.2019. Accepted: 18.02.2019.
6 Martin Josefsson

2. Five basic characterizations

There are a handful of well-known characterizations of cyclic quadrilater-
als that can be found in many books and websites dealing with Euclidean
geometry (although seldom all in the same place). We begin by reviewing
them here and shall use a couple of them in some of the proofs. The an-
gle between a side and a diagonal in a convex quadrilateral is equal to the
angle between the opposite side and the other diagonal if and only if it is a
cyclic quadrilateral. That is, for example ∠BAC = ∠BDC in quadrilateral
ABCD. The direct (the “if”) part of the theorem was Proposition III.21
in Euclid’s Elements and a proof of the converse was given by the French
mathematician Jacques Hadamard in the late 1890s according to [8].
The following necessary and sufficient condition establishes the location of
the circumcenter: In a convex quadrilateral, the four perpendicular bisectors
to the sides are concurrent if and only if it is cyclic. Their common point
is the circumcenter.
The most famous characterization of cyclic quadrilaterals and in problem
solving also the most frequently used is that any two opposite angles of a
convex quadrilateral are supplementary if and only if it is a cyclic quadri-
lateral. It means that ABCD is cyclic if and only if
(1) ∠A + ∠C = π = ∠B + ∠D.
This is often referred to as the “cyclic quadrilateral theorem”. The direct
part of it was Proposition III.22 in Euclid’s Elements. The converse is almost
always proved using an indirect proof, but an interesting different approach
can be found in [16, p. 131]. As a simple corollary we have that an exterior
angle to a convex quadrilateral is equal to the opposite interior angle if and
only if it is a cyclic quadrilateral.
An important theorem in circle geometry is the intersecting chords theo-
rem. It states that the four vertices A, B, C and D of a convex quadrilateral
satisfy the equation
AP · P B = DP · P C
if and only if it is a cyclic quadrilateral, where P is the intersection of AB
and DC or their extensions. If the chords intersect outside the circle, the
four points are vertices in a cyclic quadrilateral ABCD. But if the point
of intersection lies inside the circle, then the convex cyclic quadrilateral
is ACBD. The direct part of the case with an internal intersection was
Proposition III.35 in Euclid’s Elements.
We encourage the reader to write up the proofs of these five character-
izations if they are not previously known before reading on. In order to
make this collection of theorems self contained, we will give the proofs in an
appendix at the end.

3. Characterizations concerning angles or parallel lines

For the first two necessary and sufficient conditions we will prove we
have not found any reference at all (neither for the direct nor the converse
theorem). But since they are simple angle relations, at least the direct parts
have surely been published in some geometry textbook before.
 Characterizations of cyclic quadrilaterals 7

Theorem 3.1. In a convex quadrilateral ABCD,

∠CAD + ∠DCA = ∠B
if and only if ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral.
Proof. ABCD is cyclic if and only if ∠A + ∠C = π, which is equivalent to
∠CAD + ∠CAB + ∠DCA + ∠ACB = π
⇔ ∠CAD + ∠DCA = π − (∠CAB + ∠ACB)
⇔ ∠CAD + ∠DCA = ∠B.
In the last step we used the sum of angles in triangle ABC (see Figure 1). 

Figure 1. ABCD is cyclic iff ∠CAD + ∠DCA = ∠B

The second theorem is a simple corollary to the first of the five basic
characterization we reviewed in the previous section.
Theorem 3.2. In a convex quadrilateral ABCD,
∠A − ∠B = ∠BAC − ∠ABD
if and only if ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral.
Proof. Since ∠A = ∠BAC + ∠DAC and ∠B = ∠ABD + ∠DBC (see
Figure 2), we have that ABCD is cyclic if and only if
∠DAC = ∠DBC ⇔ ∠A − ∠BAC = ∠B − ∠ABD
and the relation follows. 

Figure 2. ABCD is cyclic iff ∠A − ∠B = ∠BAC − ∠ABD

The direct part of the next theorem is almost the same as Problem 574
on the wonderful website [7] by Antonio Gutierrez.
8 Martin Josefsson

Theorem 3.3. Let the extensions of opposite sides AB and CD in a convex

quadrilateral ABCD intersect at E and the diagonals intersect at P . Then
the angle bisectors to the angles AED and AP D are parallel if and only if
ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral.
Proof. Using notations as in Figure 3, we have
π − ∠A − ∠D π − ∠A + ∠D
u = π − ∠A − =
2 2
and, by the exterior angle theorem,
π − ∠DAC − ∠BDA π − ∠DAC + ∠BDA
v= + ∠BDA = .
2 2
The angle bisectors to the angles AED and AP D are parallel if and only if
u=v ⇔ −∠A + ∠D = −∠DAC + ∠BDA
which is a variant of the characterization in Theorem 3.2. 

Figure 3. ABCD is cyclic iff the angle bisectors at E and P are parallel

The direct part of the following theorem was a problem in [3, p. 134].
Theorem 3.4. In a convex quadrilateral ABCD, let the perpendicular to
AB at A meet CD in A′ , and the perpendicular to CD at C meet AB in
C ′ . The line A′ C ′ is parallel to BD if and only if ABCD is cyclic.
Proof. The line A′ C ′ is parallel to diagonal BD if and only if ∠CDB =
∠CA′ C ′ (see Figure 4). Quadrilateral AC ′ CA′ is cyclic by construction since
it has two opposite right angles. Thus ∠CAC ′ = ∠CA′ C ′ . Quadrilateral
ABCD is cyclic if and only if ∠CDB = ∠CAB = ∠CAC ′ = ∠CA′ C ′ . 

The next characterization can be proved via an extensive angle chase.

The converse in the theorem was Problem 2 at the first day of the China
Western Mathematical Olympiad in 2004 [4, pp. 186–187]. It was proposed
by Liu Shixiong.
Theorem 3.5. In convex quadrilateral ABCD, let I1 and I2 be the incenters
in triangles ABC and BCD respectively, and let the line I1 I2 intersect the
sides AB and CD at I1′ and I2′ respectively. If the extensions of these two
sides intersect at E, then EI1′ = EI2′ if and only if ABCD is a cyclic
quadrilateral.
 Characterizations of cyclic quadrilaterals 9

Figure 4. ABCD is cyclic iff A′ C ′ k BD

Proof. Quadrilateral ABCD is cyclic if and only if (see Figure 5)

∠BAC = ∠BDC
⇔ ∠ABC + ∠ACB = ∠DBC + ∠DCB
⇔ ∠I1 BC + ∠I1 CB = ∠I2 BC + ∠I2 CB
⇔ ∠BI1 C = ∠BI2 C
⇔ BI1 I2 C is a cyclic quadrilateral
⇔ ∠I2 I1 B + ∠I2 CB = ∠I1 I2 C + ∠I1 BC
⇔ ∠I2 I1 B − ∠I1 BA = ∠I1 I2 C − ∠I2 CD
⇔ ∠EI1′ I2′ = ∠EI2′ I1′
⇔ EI1′ = EI2′
where we have used the angle sum of a triangle, that the incenter lies on the
internal angle bisectors, the exterior angle theorem, and in the last step the
isosceles triangle theorem and its converse. 

Figure 5. ABCD is cyclic iff EI1′ = EI2′

4. A characterization concerning concurrency

A line through the midpoint of a side in a quadrilateral and perpendicular
to the opposite side is called a maltitude. The proof of the direct part of
the next theorem is more or less the same as in [10, p. 36]. We will use
the well-known property that the midpoints of the sides in a quadrilateral
are the vertices of a parallelogram (called the Varignon parallelogram). Its
10 Martin Josefsson

diagonals are called the bimedians of the quadrilateral. To prove this char-
acterization of cyclic quadrilaterals was Problem 5 on the third round of the
2001 Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad [1]. Another proof than ours was
given in [12, p. 19].
Theorem 4.1. The four maltitudes of a convex quadrilateral are concurrent
if and only if it is a cyclic quadrilateral.1
Proof. (⇒) If the quadrilateral is cyclic, we shall prove that the maltitudes
are concurrent. We label the midpoints of the sides as Ma , Mb , Mc and Md .
Let the bimedians Ma Mc and Mb Md intersect at G, the circumcircle have
center O, and let Q be a point on the extension of OG such that OG = GQ
(see Figure 6). Then Ma G = GMc since G is the intersection of the diagonals
in a parallelogram. We also have ∠OGMc = ∠QGMa , so triangles OGMc
and QGMa are congruent (SAS). Thus ∠GMc O = ∠GMa Q and so the lines
OMc and Ma Q are parallel. But OMc is perpendicular to the side CD,
hence so is the extension of Ma Q. In the same way the extensions of Mb Q,
Mc Q and Md Q are perpendicular to DA, AB and BC respectively, so all
four maltitudes are concurrent at Q.

Figure 6. The extension of Ma Q is a maltitude to side CD

(⇐) If the maltitudes are concurrent in a point, say Q, we shall prove

that the quadrilateral is cyclic. Let the bimedians intersect at G. Extend
QG to a point O′ such that QG = GO′ . Triangles O′ GMc and QGMa are
congruent (SAS), so O′ Mc is perpendicular to side CD since it is parallel
to a maltitude. Thus triangles O′ CMc and O′ DMc are congruent (SAS),
so O′ C = O′ D. In the same way we have that O′ A = O′ B, O′ B = O′ C
and O′ D = O′ A. Hence O′ is equidistant to the vertices, which proves that
ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral with circumcenter O′ . 

5. Characterizations concerning similarity

The first theorem on similarity is an extension of a problem by David
Monk in [13, p. 6].

1
Their point of intersection is called the anticenter of the cyclic quadrilateral since it is
the reflexion of the circumcenter in the centroid (the point where the bimedians intersect).
 Characterizations of cyclic quadrilaterals 11

Theorem 5.1. Let ABCD be a convex quadrilateral where the side AB is

not parallel to CD and the diagonals intersect at P . Let the parallel to AB
through P meet AD at S and BC at T , and the parallel to CD through P
meet AD at U and BC at V . Then
SP · P T = U P · P V
if and only if ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral.
Proof. (⇒) If ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral, then the exterior angle
at B is β = ∠D (see Figure 7). But ∠D = ∠SU P and β = ∠V T P , so
∠SU P = ∠V T P . Thus the triangles SP U and V P T are similar (AA).
Hence
SP UP
=
PV PT
and the equality follows.

Figure 7. ABCD is cyclic iff SP · P T = U P · P V

(⇐) For the converse, since

SP UP
SP · P T = U P · P V ⇒ =
PV PT
and ∠SP U = ∠T P V , the triangles SP U and T P V are similar. Thus
∠SU P = ∠V T P . If the exterior angle at B is β, then β = ∠V T P since AB
and ST are parallel. We also have ∠SU P = ∠D, so
β = ∠V T P = ∠SU P = ∠D.
Hence ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral. 

The direct part of the following theorem was Problem 334 at [7].
Theorem 5.2. In a convex quadrilateral ABCD where the diagonals in-
tersect at P , let A′ and C ′ be the projections of A and C respectively on
diagonal BD, and let B ′ and D′ be the projections of B and D respectively
on diagonal AC. Then
A′ P · P C ′ = B ′ P · P D′
if and only if ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral.
12 Martin Josefsson

Proof. We first study a convex quadrilateral ABCD. We have (see Fig-

ure 8)
AA′ BB ′
sin ∠ADB = , sin ∠ACB = ,
DA BC
DD′ CC ′
(2) sin ∠CAD = , sin ∠CBD = .
DA BC
The pair of triangles AA′ P and BB ′ P , and also DD′ P and CC ′ P , are
similar (AA), so
BB ′ B′P CC ′ P C′
(3) = , = .
AA′ A′ P DD′ P D′

Figure 8. Projections on the diagonals

(⇒) Now assume ABCD is cyclic. Then ∠ADB = ∠ACB and ∠CAD =
∠CBD, so from equations (2) and (3) we get
AA′ BB ′ BC BB ′ B′P
(4) = ⇒ = = ,
DA BC DA AA′ A′ P
DD ′ CC ′ BC CC ′ P C′
(5) = ⇒ = = .
DA BC DA DD′ P D′
Hence
B′P P C′
= ⇒ A′ P · P C ′ = B ′ P · P D′ .
A′ P P D′
(⇐) Conversely, if A′ P · P C ′ = B ′ P · P D′ , we will prove that ABCD is
cyclic. Using (3), we get
B′P P C′ BB ′ CC ′
= ⇒ = ⇒ AA′ · CC ′ = BB ′ · DD′ .
A′ P P D′ AA′ DD′
Using (2), this implies
(6) DA sin ∠ADB · BC sin ∠CBD = BC sin ∠ACB · DA sin ∠CAD.
From the sum of angles in triangles ADP and BCP , we have ∠ADB =
π − (∠P + ∠CAD) and ∠ACB = π − (∠P + ∠CBD) where ∠P = ∠AP D =
∠BP C. Thus equation (6) can be rewritten as
sin (P + ∠CAD) sin (P + ∠CBD)
= .
sin ∠CAD sin ∠CBD
 Characterizations of cyclic quadrilaterals 13

Applying the addition formula for sine leads to

sin P cos ∠CAD + cos P sin ∠CAD sin P cos ∠CBD + cos P sin ∠CBD
=
sin ∠CAD sin ∠CBD
which simplifies as
sin P cot ∠CAD + cos P = sin P cot ∠CBD + cos P
and we get cot ∠CAD = cot ∠CBD. Hence ∠CAD = ∠CBD, so ABCD is
a cyclic quadrilateral. 

6. Characterizations concerning extensions of the sides

Where we in this section formulate theorems about the intersections of
the extensions of opposite sides, we assume the quadrilateral is not a trape-
zoid,2 so these points exist. First we have a simple angle relation which is a
corollary to the cyclic quadrilateral theorem.
Theorem 6.1. Let the extensions of the sides of a convex quadrilateral
ABCD intersect at E and F . If the vertices are labeled such that triangle
CEF only has one point in common with ABCD, then
∠CEF + ∠CF E = ∠A
if and only if ABCD is cyclic.
Proof. In triangle CEF we have ∠CEF + ∠CF E + ∠C = π (see Figure 9).
It is a cyclic quadrilateral if and only if ∠A + ∠C = π, which is equivalent
to ∠CEF + ∠CF E = ∠A. 

Figure 9. ABCD is cyclic iff ∠CEF + ∠CF E = ∠A

The direct part of the next theorem was a problem in [9, p. 255], Problem
573 at [7], Problem 483 (a) in [5], and the first geometry problem ever to
appear in the American Mathematical Monthly (in 1894) according to [5].
It seems that the converse was considered for the first time in [5].
Theorem 6.2. If the extensions of the sides of a convex quadrilateral in-
tersect at E and F , then the angle bisectors at E and F are perpendicular
if and only if it is a cyclic quadrilateral.
2And thus not a parallelogram, rhombus, rectangle or square, which are special cases
of trapezoids when using inclusive definitions.
14 Martin Josefsson

Proof. We start with a convex quadrilateral ABCD. Let the extension of

the sides AB and DC intersect at E, and the extension of the sides BC and
AD intersect at F (see Figure 10). From the sum of angles in triangle ADE
we get that ∠E = π−∠A−∠D and in triangle ABF that ∠F = π−∠A−∠B.
If ζ is the angle between CD and the angle bisector at F , we have by the
exterior angle theorem that ∠C = ζ + 12 ∠F . Let ψ be the angle between
the two considered angle bisectors. From the exterior angle theorem we get
that ζ = ψ + 12 ∠E, so
2ψ = 2ζ − ∠E
= 2∠C − ∠F − ∠E
= 2∠C − π + ∠A + ∠B − π + ∠A + ∠D
= (∠A + ∠B + ∠C + ∠D − 2π) + ∠A + ∠C.
The expression in the parenthesis is zero, so in all convex quadrilaterals
∠A + ∠C
ψ= .
2
Quadrilateral ABCD is cyclic if and only if
π
∠A + ∠C = π ⇔ ψ= ,
2
that is, if and only if the angle bisectors are perpendicular. 

Figure 10. ABCD is cyclic iff ψ = π

2

The direct part of the following characterization was a problem by G. B.

M. Zerr in the American Mathematical Monthly in 1898 according to [11,
pp. 218–219]. It was also Problem 359 at [7]. The converse is a direct
application of Theorem 6.2.
Theorem 6.3. Let the extensions of the sides of a convex quadrilateral
ABCD intersect at E and F , and let the angle bisectors at E and F intersect
the sides AB, BC, CD and DA at W , X, Y and Z respectively. The
quadrilateral W XY Z is a rhombus if and only if ABCD is cyclic.
 Characterizations of cyclic quadrilaterals 15

Proof. (⇒) In a cyclic quadrilateral ABCD, we have ∠ECX = ∠EAZ

(see Figure 11). Since ∠CEX = ∠AEZ, the triangles AEZ and CEX are
similar. Thus ∠CXE = ∠AZE. Since ∠CXE = ∠BXZ we conclude that
∠F XZ = ∠F ZX, so triangle F XZ is isosceles. Then F X = F Z and XJ
= JZ, where J is the intersection of the angle bisectors. In the same way
Y J = JW , so triangles ZJW , ZJY , Y JX and XJW are congruent (SAS).
Hence W X = XY = Y Z = ZW so W XY Z is a rhombus.

Figure 11. ABCD is cyclic iff W XY Z is a rhombus

(⇐) If quadrilateral W XY Z is a rhombus, its diagonals are perpendicular,

and so are the angle bisectors at E and F . Then ABCD is cyclic according
to Theorem 6.2. 

In the proof of the next characterization we need the following lemma. It

was discovered by Jakob Steiner in 1827, but a detailed proof was given by
Auguste Miquel according to [14, p. 96].
Lemma 6.1. Let the extensions of the sides AB and CD intersect at E,
and the extensions of the sides BC and AD intersect at F in a convex
quadrilateral ABCD. Then all four circumcircles to triangles BCE, ABF ,
ADE and ABF are concurrent in a point called the Miquel point of the
complete quadrilateral ABECF D.
Proof. Let the circumcircles of triangles BCE and ABF intersect at J (see
Figure 12). In the cyclic quadrilaterals ABJF and CBEJ we have that
∠DEJ = ∠CEJ = ∠CBJ = ∠F BJ = ∠F AJ = ∠DAJ
which proves that DAEJ is also a cyclic quadrilateral. Thus the circumcircle
of triangle ADE also goes through J. In the same way it is proved that the
circumcircle of ABF goes through J as well. 

In [8, p. 109] it was given as a part of Exercise 106 to prove the following
characterization of cyclic quadrilaterals (formulated differently).
Theorem 6.4. Let the extensions of opposite sides in a convex quadrilateral
ABCD intersect at E and F . The Miquel point of the complete quadrilateral
ABECF D lies on the line EF if and only if ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral.
16 Martin Josefsson

Figure 12. The cyclic quadrilaterals ABJF and CBEJ

Proof. Due to Lemma 6.1, it is enough to prove that the circumcircles of

two arbitrary of the four triangles BCE, ABF , ADE and ABF intersect
at EF if and only if the quadrilateral ABCD is cyclic. To this end, let
the circumcircle of BCE intersect EF at K (see Figure 13). Quadrilateral
EBCK is cyclic, so ∠EKB = ∠ECB. Also, ∠BKF = π − ∠EKB so
(7) ∠BKF = π − ∠ECB = ∠C.
In the same way, let the circumcircle of ABF intersect EF at L, so F ABL
is cyclic and ∠F LB + ∠F AB = π. From the exterior angle theorem,
(8) ∠BKF = ∠F LB + ∠KBL = π − ∠F AB + ∠KBL.
Combining (7) and (8) yields
∠KBL = ∠A + ∠C − π.
Hence
∠A + ∠C = π ⇔ ∠KBL = 0 ⇔ K = L
so quadrilateral ABCD is cyclic if and only if the two circumcircles intersect
in K = L on EF . 

Figure 13. ABCD is cyclic iff K = L

The formula in the next characterization appears in a problem in [6, p.

26]. Some time after we proved this theorem, we found out that the converse
 Characterizations of cyclic quadrilaterals 17

was Problem 13 at the mathematics competition Baltic Way in 2006 [15, p.

19]. We will give our proof, which differs from the official solution to that
problem.
Theorem 6.5. Let the extensions of the sides AB and CD in a convex
quadrilateral ABCD intersect at E, and let the extensions of the sides BC
and AD intersect at F . Then
EF 2 = AE · EB + BF · F C
if and only if ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral.
Proof. Let the circumcircles of triangles BCE and ABF intersect EF at
K and L respectively (see Figure 13). Then
EF 2 = EF (EL ± LK + KF ) = EF · EL ± EF · LK + EF · KF
where the choice of signs depends on where the circles intersect EF . Using
the intersecting chords theorem, we have that F E · EL = AE · EB in cyclic
quadrilateral ABLF and EF ·F K = BF ·F C in cyclic quadrilateral BCKE.
Hence
EF 2 = AE · EB ± EF · LK + BF · F C
so
EF 2 = AE · EB + BF · F C ⇔ LK = 0
since EF 6= 0. We have LK = 0 if and only if the quadrilateral ABCD is
cyclic according to Theorem 6.4. 

The direct part of the last theorem was Problem 4 at the competition
Tournament of the Towns in the fall of 2015 for senior A-level [2].
Theorem 6.6. Let the extensions of opposite sides in a convex quadrilateral
intersect at E and F , and the midpoints of the diagonals be M and N . Then
∠EM F + ∠EN F = π
if and only if it is a cyclic quadrilateral.
Proof. (⇒) In a cyclic quadrilateral ABCD, the pairs of triangles ECA
and EBD, and also F AC and F BD are similar (AA), so ∠EM A = ∠EN D
and ∠F M C = ∠F N D (see Figure 14). Hence
π − ∠EM C = ∠EN F + ∠F N D ⇒ π = ∠EN F + ∠EM C + ∠F M C
and we get π = ∠EN F + ∠EM F .
(⇐) We do an indirect proof of the converse. If the vertex A in a con-
vex quadrilateral ABCD lies inside the circumcircle to triangle BCD, then
∠EM A < ∠EN D and ∠F M C > ∠F N D. Hence
π − ∠EM C < ∠EN F + ∠F N D < ∠EN F + ∠F M C
and we get that π < ∠EN F + ∠EM F . In the case when the vertex A is
outside the circle, this inequality is reversed, completing the proof. 
18 Martin Josefsson

Figure 14. ABCD is cyclic iff ∠EM F + ∠EN F = π

7. Concluding remark
Was this the end? What about Ptolemy’s theorem some readers might
object. Yes, it was deliberately excluded, but not forgotten. There will be a
sequel to this paper covering for instance necessary and sufficient conditions
of cyclic quadrilaterals concerning the diagonals.

Appendix A. Proofs of the five basic characterizations

Here we prove the five well-known characterizations of cyclic quadrilater-
als that were stated after the introduction.
Theorem A.1. The angle between a side and a diagonal in a convex quadri-
lateral is equal to the angle between the opposite side and the other diagonal
if and only if it is a cyclic quadrilateral.
Proof. (⇒) There are several similar cases; we prove that ∠BAC = ∠BDC
if and only if ABCD is cyclic. In a cyclic quadrilateral, this angle equality
is a direct corollary to the inscribed angle theorem.
(⇐) If ∠BAC = ∠BDC, we can prove that the quadrilateral is cyclic
by an indirect proof. Assume it is not cyclic, but triangle ABC always
has a circumcircle. The vertex D lies either outside this circle or inside it.
Assume first it is outside. The line BD cuts the circle at a point D′ and
so ABCD′ is cyclic (see Figure 15). Then ∠BAC = ∠BD′ C by the direct
part of the theorem and therefor ∠BDC = ∠BD′ C. By the exterior angle
theorem, we have ∠BD′ C = ∠BDC + ∠DCD′ . But this is a contradiction
to ∠BDC = ∠BD′ C, so the assumption that D lies outside the circle is
incorrect. Likewise we prove that D cannot be inside the circle, hence it’s
on it and ABCD is cyclic. 
Theorem A.2. In a convex quadrilateral, the four perpendicular bisectors
to the sides are concurrent if and only if it is cyclic.
Proof. (⇒) In a cyclic quadrilateral ABCD with circumcenter O, triangles
AOB, BOC, COD and DOA are all isosceles since AO = BO = CO = DO.
Thus the perpendicular bisectors to the sides are concurrent in O.
 Characterizations of cyclic quadrilaterals 19

Figure 15. ABCD is cyclic iff ∠BAC = ∠BDC

(⇐) In a convex quadrilateral ABCD where the perpendicular bisectors

to the sides are concurrent in a point, say O, we have that triangles AOB,
BOC, COD and DOA are all isosceles. Indeed, take for instance AOB
and let Ma be the midpoint of AB. Then triangles AMa O and BMa O are
congruent (SAS), so AO = BO (see Figure 16). In the same way AO =
BO = CO = DO which proves that O is the circumcenter in a cyclic
quadrilateral ABCD. 

Figure 16. The concurrent perpendicular bisectors

Theorem A.3. Any two opposite angles of a convex quadrilateral are sup-
plementary if and only if it is a cyclic quadrilateral.
Proof. (⇒) If quadrilateral ABCD is cyclic with circumcenter O and if
the angles at the center are B and D, then by the inscribed angle theorem
B = 2∠B and D = 2∠D. Thus 2(∠B+∠D) = B+D = 2π so ∠B+∠D = π.
The other equality ∠A+∠C = π can be derived in the same way, or it follows
from the sum of angles in a quadrilateral.
(⇐) If ∠B + ∠D = π we can prove that the quadrilateral is cyclic by
an indirect proof. Assume that it is not cyclic, but triangle ABC has a
circumcircle. The vertex D lies either outside this circle or inside it. Assume
this time it is inside. Extend CD to D′ on the circle (see Figure 17). Then
ABCD′ is a cyclic quadrilateral and by the direct part of the theorem, we
get ∠B + ∠D′ = π. That means ∠D′ = ∠D, but according to the exterior
angle theorem ∠D = ∠D′ + ∠DAD′ , which is a contradiction. In the same
20 Martin Josefsson

way it can be proved that D is not outside the circle, hence it is on it and
ABCD is cyclic. 

Figure 17. ABCD is cyclic iff ∠B + ∠D = π

Theorem A.4. An exterior angle to a convex quadrilateral is equal to the

opposite interior angle if and only if it is a cyclic quadrilateral.

Proof. If β is the exterior angle to B, then β + ∠B = π. The convex

quadrilateral ABCD is cyclic if and only if
∠B + ∠D = π ⇔ ∠B + ∠D = β + ∠B ⇔ ∠D = β
and the proof is complete. 

Theorem A.5. The four vertices A, B, C and D of a convex quadrilateral

satisfy the equation
AP · P B = DP · P C
if and only if it is a cyclic quadrilateral, where P is the intersection of AB
and DC or their extensions.

Proof. (⇒) We consider only the case where the chords intersect outside
the quadrilateral; the other case is similar. In a cyclic quadrilateral ABCD,
∠CAB = ∠CDB according to Theorem A.1, so triangles CAP and BDP
are similar (AA) since the angle at P is common to these triangles (see
Figure 18). Then
AP PC
(9) =
DP PB
and it follows that AP · P B = DP · P C.
(⇐) If AP ·P B = DP ·P C in a convex quadrilateral, then (9) holds. Since
the angle at P is common to triangles CAP and BDP , they are similar
(SAS). Thus ∠CAB = ∠CDB, and so ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral
according to the converse in Theorem A.1. 
 Characterizations of cyclic quadrilaterals 21

Figure 18. ABCD is cyclic iff AP · P B = DP · P C

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