b

Forum Geometricorum
Volume 1 (2001) 33–42. b b

FORUM GEOM

The Isogonal Tripolar Conic

Cyril F. Parry

Abstract. In trilinear coordinates with respect to a given triangle ABC, we

define the isogonal tripolar of a point P (p, q, r) to be the line p: pα + qβ + rγ =
0. We construct a unique conic Φ, called the isogonal tripolar conic, with respect
to which p is the polar of P for all P . Although the conic is imaginary, it has
a real center and real axes coinciding with the center and axes of the real orthic
inconic. Since ABC is self-conjugate with respect to Φ, the imaginary conic is
harmonically related to every circumconic and inconic of ABC. In particular, Φ
is the reciprocal conic of the circumcircle and Steiner’s inscribed ellipse. We also
construct an analogous isotomic tripolar conic Ψ by working with barycentric
coordinates.

1. Trilinear coordinates
For any point P in the plane ABC, we can locate the right projections of P
on the sides of triangle ABC at P1 , P2 , P3 and measure the distances P P1 , P P2
and P P3 . If the distances are directed, i.e., measured positively in the direction of
−→ −→
each vertex to the opposite side, we can identify the distances α =P P1 , β =P P2 ,
−→
γ =P P3 (Figure 1) such that
aα + bβ + cγ = 2

where a, b, c,
are the side lengths and area of triangle ABC. This areal equation
for all positions of P means that the ratio of the distances is sufficient to define the
trilinear coordinates of P (α, β, γ) where
α : β : γ = α : β : γ.
For example, if we consider the coordinates of the vertex A, the incenter I, and
the first excenter I1 , we have absolute αβγ−coordinates : A(h1 , 0, 0), I(r, r, r),
I1 (−r1 , r1 , r1 ), where h1 , r, r1 are respectively the altitude from A, the inradius
and the first exradius of triangle ABC. It follows that the trilinear αβγ−coordinates
in their simplest form are A(1, 0, 0), I(1, 1, 1), I1 (−1, 1, 1). Let R be the cir-
cumradius, and h1 , h2 , h3 the altitudes, so that ah1 = bh2 = ch3 = 2
. The
absolute coordinates of the circumcenter O, the orthocenter H, and the median
point 1 G are O(R cos A, R cos B, R cos C), H(2R cos B cos C, 2R cos C cos A,

Publication Date: February 26, 2001. Communicating Editor: Clark Kimberling.

1The median point is also known as the centroid.
34 C. F. Parry

2R cos A cos B), and G( h31 , h32 , h33 ), giving trilinear coordinates: O(cos A, cos B,
cos C), H(sec A, sec B, sec C), and G( a1 , 1b , 1c ).

2. Isogonal conjugate
For any position of P we can define its isogonal conjugate Q such that the
directed angles (AC, AQ) = (AP, AB) = θ1 , (BA, BP ) = (BQ, BC) = θ2 ,
(CB, CP ) = (CQ, CA) = θ3 as shown in Figure 1. If the absolute coordinates
−→ −→ −→
of Q are α =QQ1 , β  =QQ2 , γ  =QQ3 , then
P P2 AP sin(A − θ1 ) QQ2 AQ sin θ1
= and =
P P3 AP sin θ1 QQ3 AQ sin(A − θ1 )
so that that P P2 · QQ2 = P P3 · QQ3 , implying ββ  = γγ  . Similarly, αα = ββ 
and γγ  = αα , so that αα = ββ  = γγ  . Consequently, αα = ββ  = γγ  .
A

P2
P3
P
Q3
Q2
Q

B P1 Q1 C

Figure 1

Hence, Q is the triangular inverse of P ; i.e., if P has coordinates (α, β, γ), then
its isogonal conjugate Q has coordinates (α1 , β1 , γ1 ). It will be convenient to use
the notation P̂ for the isogonal conjugate of P . We can immediately note that
O(cos A, cos B, cos C) and H(sec A, sec B, sec C) are isogonal conjugates. On
the other hand, the symmedian point K, being the isogonal conjugate of G(a1 , 1b , 1c ),
has coordinates K(a, b, c), i.e., the distances from K to the sides of triangle ABC
are proportional to the side lengths of ABC.

3. Tripolar
We can now define the line coordinates (l, m, n) of a given line  in the plane
ABC, such that any point P with coordinates (α, β, γ) lying on  must satisfy the
linear equation lα + mβ + nγ = 0. In particular, the side lines BC, CA, AB
have line coordinates (1,0,0), (0,1,0), (0,0,1), with equations α = 0, β = 0, γ = 0
respectively.
A specific line that may be defined is the harmonic or trilinear polar of Q with
respect to ABC, which will be called the tripolar of Q.
In Figure 2, L M  N  is the tripolar of Q, where LM N is the diagonal triangle
of the quadrangle ABCQ; and L M  N  is the axis of perspective of the triangles
ABC and LM N . Any line through Q meeting two sides of ABC at U , V and
Isogonal tripolar conic 35

meeting L M  N  at W creates an harmonic range (U V ; QW ). To find the line

coordinates of L M  N  when Q has coordinates (p , q  , r  ), we note L = AQ ∩
QQ2
BC has coordinates (0, q , r  ), since LL 2  
LL3 = QQ3 . Similarly for M (p , 0, r ) and
N (p , q  , 0). Hence the equation of the line M N is
α β γ

= +  (1)
p q r
since the equation is satisfied when the coordinates of M or N are substituted for
α, β, γ in (1). So the coordinates of L = M N ∩ BC are L (0, q  , −r  ). Similarly
for M  (p , 0, −r  ) and N  (p , −q  , 0), leading to the equation of the line L M  N  :
α β γ

+  +  = 0. (2)
p q r
M

N

A

N
M
Q
P

B L C L

Figure 2

Now from the previous analysis, if P (p, q, r) and Q(p , q  , r  ) are isogonal con-
jugates then pp = qq  = rr  so that from (2) the equation of the line L M  N  is
pα + qβ + rγ = 0. In other words, the line coordinates of the tripolar of Q are the
trilinear coordinates of P . We can then define the isogonal tripolar of P (p, q, r)
as the line L M  N  with equation pα + qβ + rγ = 0.
For example, for the vertices A(1, 0, 0), B(0, 1, 0), C(0, 0, 1), the isogonal
tripolars are the corresponding sides BC (α = 0), CA (β = 0), AB (γ = 0). For
the notable points O(cos A, cos B, cos C), I(1, 1, 1), G( a1 , 1b , 1c ), and K(a, b, c),
the corresponding isogonal tripolars are
o: α cos A + β cos B + γ cos C = 0,
i: α + β + γ = 0,
α β γ
g: + + = 0,
a b c
k: aα + bβ + cγ = 0.
Here, o, i, g, k are respectively the orthic axis, the anti-orthic axis, Lemoine’s line,
and the line at infinity, i.e., the tripolars of H, I, K, and G. Clark Kimberling has
assembled a catalogue of notable points and notable lines with their coordinates in
a contemporary publication [3].
36 C. F. Parry

4. The isogonal tripolar conic Φ

Now consider a point P2 (p2 , q2 , r2 ) on the isogonal tripolar of P1 (p1 , q1 , r1 ),
i.e., the line
p1 : p1 α + q1 β + r1 γ = 0.
Obviously P1 lies on the isogonal tripolar of P2 since the equality p1 p2 + q1 q2 +
r1 r2 = 0 is the condition for both incidences. Furthermore, the line P1 P2 has
equation
(q1 r2 − q2 r1 )α + (r1 p2 − r2 p1 )β + (p1 q2 − p2 q1 )γ = 0,
while the point p1 ∩ p2 has coordinates (q1 r2 − q2 r1 , r1 p2 − r2 p1 , p1 q2 − p2 q1 ).
It follows that t = P1 P2 is the isogonal tripolar of T = p1 ∩ p2 . These isogo-
nal tripolars immediately suggest the classical polar reciprocal relationships of a
geometrical conic. In fact, the triangle P1 P2 T has the analogous properties of a
self-conjugate triangle with respect to a conic, since each side of triangle P1 P2 T
is the isogonal tripolar of the opposite vertex. This means that a significant conic
could be drawn self-polar to triangle P1 P2 T . But an infinite number of conics
can be drawn self-polar to a given triangle; and a further point with its polar are
required to identify a unique conic [5]. We can select an arbitrary point P3 with
its isogonal tripolar p3 for this purpose. Now the equation to the general conic in
trilinear coordinates is [4]
S: lα2 + mβ 2 + nγ 2 + 2f βγ + 2gγα + 2hαβ = 0
and the polar of P1 (p1 , q1 , r1 ) with respect to S is
s1 : (lp1 + hq1 + gr1 )α + (hp1 + mq1 + f r1 )β + (gp1 + f q1 + nr1 )γ = 0.
By definition we propose that for i = 1, 2, 3, the lines pi and si coincide, so that
the line coordinates of pi and si must be proportional; i.e.,
lpi + hqi + gri hpi + mqi + f ri gpi + f qi + nri
= = .
pi qi ri
Solving these three sets of simultaneous equations, after some manipulation we
find that l = m = n and f = g = h = 0, so that the equation of the required conic
is α2 + β 2 + γ 2 = 0. This we designate the isogonal tripolar conic Φ.
From the analysis Φ is the unique conic which reciprocates the points P1 , P2 ,
P3 to the lines p1 , p2 , p3 . But any set of points Pi , Pj , Pk with the corresponding
isogonal tripolars pi , pj , pk could have been chosen, leading to the same equation
for the reciprocal conic. We conclude that the isogonal tripolar of any point P
in the plane ABC is the polar of P with respect to Φ. Any triangle Pi Pj Tk with
Tk = pi ∩ pj is self-conjugate with respect to Φ. In particular, the basic triangle
ABC is self-conjugate with respect to Φ, since each side is the isogonal tripolar of
its opposite vertex.
From the form of the equation α2 + β 2 + γ 2 = 0, the isogonal tripolar conic
Φ is obviously an imaginary conic. So the conic exists on the complex projective
plane. However, it will be shown that the imaginary conic has a real center and real
axes; and that Φ is the reciprocal conic of a pair of notable real conics.
Isogonal tripolar conic 37

5. The center of Φ
To find the center of Φ, we recall that the polar of the center of a conic with
respect to that conic is the line at infinty ∞ which we have already identified as
k : aα + bβ + cγ = 0, the isogonal tripolar of the symmedian point K(a, b, c). So
the center of Φ and the center of its director circle are situated at K. From Gaskin’s
Theorem, the director circle of a conic is orthogonal to the circumcircle of every
self-conjugate triangle. Choosing the basic triangle ABC as the self-conjugate
triangle with circumcenter O and circumradius R, we have ρ2 + R2 = OK 2 ,
where ρ is the director radius of Φ. But it is known [2] that R2 − OK 2 = 3µ2 ,
abc
where µ = 2 is the radius of the cosine circle of ABC. From this,
a + b2 + c2
√ √ abc
ρ = i 3µ = i 3 · 2 .
a + b2 + c2
6. Some lemmas
To locate the axes of Φ, some preliminary results are required which can be
found in the literature [1] or obtained by analysis.
Lemma 1. If a diameter of the circumcircle of ABC meets the circumcircle at X,
Y , then the isogonal conjugates of X and Y (designated X̂, Ŷ ) lie on the line at
infinity; and for arbitrary P , the line PX̂ and P Ŷ are perpendicular.
Here is a special case.
Lemma 2. If the chosen diameter is the Euler line OGH, then X̂ Ŷ lie on the
asymptotes of Jerabek’s hyperbola J , which is the locus of the isogonal conjugate
of a variable point on the Euler line OGH (Figure 3).

Lemma 3. If the axes of a conic S with center Q meets ∞ at E, F , then the polars
of E, F with respect to S are the perpendicular lines QF , QE; and E, F are the
only points on ∞ with this property.
Lemma 4. If U GV is a chord of the circumcircle Γ through G meeting Γ at U , V ,
then the tripolar of U is the line KV̂ passing through the symmedian point K and
the isogonal conjugate of V .

7. The axes of Φ
To proceed with the location of the axes of Φ, we start with the conditions of
Lemma 2 where X, Y are the common points of OGH and Γ.
From Lemma 4, since XGY are collinear, the tripolars of X, Y are respectively
K Ŷ , K X̂, which are perpendicular from Lemma 1. Now from earlier definitions,
the tripolars of X, Y are the isogonal tripolars of X̂, Ŷ , so that the isogonal tripo-
lars of X̂, Ŷ are the perpendiculars KŶ , K X̂ through the center of Φ. Since X̂ Ŷ
lie on ∞ , K X̂, K Ŷ must be the axes of Φ from Lemma 3. And these axes are
parallel to the asymptotes of J from Lemma 2.
38 C. F. Parry

G K
O
B
C

Figure 3. The Jerabek hyperbola

Now it is known [1] that the asymptotes of J are parallel to the axes of the
orthic inconic (Figure 4). The orthic triangle has its vertices at H1 , H2 , H3 the feet
of the altitudes AH, BH, CH. The orthic inconic has its center at K and touches
the sides of triangle ABC at the vertices of the orthic triangle. So the axes of the
imaginary conic Φ coincide with the axes of the real orthic inconic.
A

H3
H H2

B H1 C

Figure 4. The orthic inconic

8. Φ as a reciprocal conic of two real conics

Although the conic Φ is imaginary, every real point P has a polar p with respect
to Φ. In particular if P lies on the circumcircle Γ, its polar p touches Steiner’s
inscribed ellipse σ with center G. This tangency arises from the known theorem
Isogonal tripolar conic 39

[1] that the tripolar of any point on ∞ touches σ. From Lemma 1 this tripolar is
the isogonal tripolar of the corresponding point of Γ. Now the basic triangle ABC
(which is self-conjugate with respect to Φ) is inscribed in Γ and tangent to σ, which
touches the sides of ABC at their midpoints (Figure 5). In the language of classical
geometrical conics, the isogonal tripolar conic Φ is harmonically inscribed to Γ
and harmoncially circumscribed to σ. From the tangency described above, Φ is
the reciprocal conic to Γ
σ. Furthermore, since ABC is self-conjugate with
respect to Φ, an infinite number of triangles Pi Pj Pk can be drawn with its vertices
inscribed in Γ, its sides touching σ, and self-conjugate with respect to Φ. Since Φ
is the reciprocal conic of Γ
σ, for any point on σ, its polar with respect to Φ
(i.e., its isogonal tripolar) touches Γ. In particular, if the tangent pi touches σ at
Ti (ui , vi , wi ) for i = 1, 2, 3, then ti , the isogonal tripolar of Ti , touches Γ at Pi
(Figure 5).

P1 T2
P3
G

O T1
T3
B C

P2

Figure 5

Now, the equation to the circumcircle Γ is aβγ + bγα + cαβ = 0. The equation
of the tangent to Γ at Pi (pi , qi , ri ) is
(cqi + bri )α + (ari + cpi )β + (bpi + aqi )γ = 0.
If this tangent coincides with ti , the isogonal tripolar of Ti , then the coordinates of
Ti are
ui = cqi + bri , vi = ari + cpi , wi = bpi + aqi . (3)
So, if ti is the tangent at Pi (pi , qi , ri ) to Γ, and simultaneously the isogonal tripolar
of Ti , then the coordinates of Ti are as shown in (3). But this relationship can be
generalized for any Pi in the plane of ABC, since the equation to the polar of Pi
with respect to Γ is identical to the equation to the tangent at Pi (in the particular
case that Pi lies on Γ). In other words, the isogonal tripolar of Ti (ui , vi , wi ) with
the coordinates shown at (3) is the polar of Pi (pi , qi , ri ) with respect to Γ, for any
Pi , Ti in the plane of ABC.

9. The isotomic tripolar conic Ψ

To find an alternative description of the transformation P → T , we define the
isotomic conjugate and the isotomic tripolar.
40 C. F. Parry

In the foregoing discussion we have used trilinear coordinates (α, β, γ) to de-

fine the point P and its isogonal tripolar p. However, we could just as well use
barycentric (areal) coordinates (x, y, z) to define P . With x = area (P BC), y =
area (P CA), z = area (P AB), and x + y + z = area (ABC), comparing with
trilinear coordinates of P we have
aα = 2x, bβ = 2y, cγ = 2z.
Using directed areas, i.e., positive area (P BC) when the perpendicular distance
P P1 is positive, the ratio of the areas is sufficient to define the (x, y, z) coordinates
of P , with x : x = y : y = z : z. The absolute coordinates (x, y, z) can then be
found from the areal coordinates (x, y, z) using the areal identity x + y + z =
.
For example, the barycentric coordinates of A, I, I1 , O, H, G, K are A(1, 0, 0),
I(a, b, c), I1 (−a, b, c), O(a cos A, b cos B, c cos C), H(a sec A, b sec B, c sec C),
G(1, 1, 1), K(a2 , b2 , c2 ) respectively.
In this barycentric system we can identity the coordinates (x , y  , z  ) of the iso-
−→ −→ −→ −→
tomic conjugate P of P as shown in Figure 6, where BL=L C, CM=M  A,
−→ −→
AN =N  B. We find by the same procedure that xx = yy  = zz  for P , P , so
that the areal coordinates of P are (x1 , y1 , 1z ), explaining the alternative description
that P is the triangular reciprocal of P .
A

M
N

N

P M

B L L
C

Figure 6

Following the same argument as heretofore, we can define the isotomic tripolar
of P (p, q, r) as the tripolar of P with barycentric equation px + qy + rz = 0, and
then identify the imaginary isotomic tripolar conic Ψ with equation x2 + y 2 + z 2 =
0. The center of Ψ is the median point G(1, 1, 1) since the isotomic tripolar of G is
the ∞ with barycentric equation x + y + z = 0. By analogous procedure we can
find the axes of Ψ which coincide with the real axes of Steiner’s inscribed ellipse
σ.
Again, we find that the basic triangle ABC is self conjugate with respect to Ψ,
and from Gaskin’s Theorem, the radius of the imaginary director circle d is given
by d2 + R2 = OG2 . From this, d2 = OG2 − R2 = − 19 (a2 + b2 + c2 ), giving
i
2
d= a + b2 + c2 .
3
Isogonal tripolar conic 41

In the analogous case to Figure 5, we find that in Figure 7, if P is a variable point

on Steiner’s circum-ellipse θ (with center G), then the isotomic tripolar of P is
tangent to σ, and Ψ is the reciprocal conic of θ
σ. Generalizing this relationship
as before, we find that the polar of P (pqr) with respect to θ is the isotomic tripolar
of T with barycentric coordinates (q+r, r+p, p+q). Furthermore, we can describe
−→ −→
the transformation P → T in vector geometry as P G= 2 GT , or more succinctly
that T is the complement of P [2]. The inverse transformation T → P is given by
−→ −→
T G= 12 GP , where P is the anticomplement of T . So the transformation of point
T to the isotomic tripolar t can be described as
t = isotomic tripole of T
= polar of T with respect to Ψ
= polar of P with respect to θ,
−→ −→
where P G= 2 GT . In other words, the transformation of a point P (p, q, r) to
its isotomic tripolar px + qy + rz = 0 is a dilatation (G, −2) followed by polar
reciprocation in θ, Steiner’s circum-ellipse.

T2
P3 P2

T1 T3
B C

P1

Figure 7

To find the corresponding transformation of a point to its isogonal tripolar, we

recall that the polar of P (p, q, r) with respect to Γ is the isogonal tripolar of T ,
where T has trilinear coordinates (cq + br, ar + cp, bp + aq) from (3). Now, P̂ , the
isotomic conjugate of the isogonal conjugate of P , has coordinates (ap2 , bq2 , cr2 ) [3].
Putting R = P̂ , the complement of R has coordinates (cq + br, ar + cp, bp + aq),
which are the coordinates of T . So the transformation of point T to its isogonal
tripolar t can be described as
t = isogonal tripolar of T
= polar of T with respect to Φ
= polar of P with respect to Γ,
−→ −→
where RG= 2 GT , and P = R, ˆ the isogonal conjugate of the isotomic conjugate
of R. In other words, the transformation of a point P with trilinear coordinates
42 C. F. Parry

(p, q, r) to its isogonal tripolar (pα + qβ + rγ = 0) is a dilatation (G, −2), fol-

lowed by isotomic transformation, then isogonal transformation, and finally polar
reciprocation in the circumcircle Γ.
We conclude with the remark that the two well known systems of homogeneous
coordinates, viz. trilinear (α, β, γ) and barycentric (x, y, z), generate two analo-
gous imaginary conics Φ and Ψ, whose real centers and real axes coincide with
the corresponding elements of notable real inconics of the triangle. In each case,
the imaginary conic reciprocates an arbitrary point P to the corresponding line p,
whose line coordinates are identical to the point coordinates of P . And in each
case, reciprocation in the imaginary conic is the equivalent of well known transfor-
mations of the real plane.

References
[1] J. Casey, A Sequel to Euclid, 6th edition, Hodges & Friggis, Dublin, 1892.
[2] N. Altshiller-Court, College Geometry, 2nd edition, Barnes & Noble, New York, 1952.
[3] C. Kimberling, Triangle Centers and Central Triangles, Congressus Numerantium, 129 (1998) 1
– 295.
[4] E. A. Maxwell, General Homogeneous Coordinates, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
1957.
[5] J. W. Russell, Pure Geometry, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1893.

Cyril F. Parry: 73 Scott Drive, Exmouth, Devon, England EX8 3LF

E-mail address: simplysorted@cableinet.co.uk