triangle center

Even though the ancient Greeks discovered the classic centers of a triangle, they had not formulated any definition of a triangle center. After the ancient Greeks, several special points associated with a triangle like the Fermat point, nine-point center, Lemoine point, Gergonne point, and Feuerbach point were discovered.

During the revival of interest in triangle geometry in the 1980s it was noticed that these special points share some general properties that now form the basis for a formal definition of triangle center.{{Cite web |last=Kimberling |first=Clark |author-link=Clark Kimberling |title=Triangle centers |url=http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/tcenters/index.html |access-date=2009-05-23 |quote=Unlike squares and circles, triangles have many centers. The ancient Greeks found four: incenter, centroid, circumcenter, and orthocenter. A fifth center, found much later, is the Fermat point. Thereafter, points now called nine-point center, symmedian point, Gergonne point, and Feuerbach point, to name a few, were added to the literature. In the 1980s, it was noticed that these special points share some general properties that now form the basis for a formal definition of triangle center}}{{Cite journal |last=Kimberling |first=Clark |author-link=Clark Kimberling |date=11 Apr 2018 |orig-year=1994 |title=Central Points and Central Lines in the Plane of a Triangle |journal=Mathematics Magazine |volume=67 |issue=3 |pages=163–187 |doi=10.2307/2690608 |jstor=2690608}} Clark Kimberling's Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers contains an annotated list of over 50,000 triangle centers.{{Cite web |last=Kimberling |first=Clark |title=This is PART 26: Centers X(50001) – X(52000) |url=https://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/encyclopedia/ETCPart26.html |access-date=17 June 2022 |website=Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers |authorlink=Clark Kimberling}} Every entry in the Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers is denoted by $X(n)$ or $X\_n$ where $n$ is the positional index of the entry. For example, the centroid of a triangle is the second entry and is denoted by $X(2)$ or $X\_2$.

A real-valued function {{mvar|f}} of three real variables {{mvar|a, b, c}} may have the following properties:

• Homogeneity: $f(ta,tb,tc)\; =\; t^n\; f(a,b,c)$ for some constant {{mvar|n}} and for all {{math|t > 0}}.
• Bisymmetry in the second and third variables: $f(a,b,c)\; =\; f(a,c,b).$

If a non-zero {{mvar|f}} has both these properties it is called a triangle center function. If {{mvar|f}} is a triangle center function and {{mvar|a, b, c}} are the side-lengths of a reference triangle then the point whose trilinear coordinates are $f(a,b,c)\; :\; f(b,c,a)\; :\; f(c,a,b)$ is called a triangle center.

This definition ensures that triangle centers of similar triangles meet the invariance criteria specified above. By convention only the first of the three trilinear coordinates of a triangle center is quoted since the other two are obtained by cyclic permutation of {{mvar|a, b, c}}. This process is known as cyclicity.{{cite web|url=http://mathworld.wolfram.com/TriangleCenter.html|title=Triangle Center|last=Weisstein|first=Eric W|author-link=Eric W. Weisstein|work=MathWorld–A Wolfram Web Resource. |access-date=25 May 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://mathworld.wolfram.com/TriangleCenterFunction.html|title=Triangle Center Function|last=Weisstein|first=Eric W|work=MathWorld–A Wolfram Web Resource. |access-date=1 July 2009}}

Every triangle center function corresponds to a unique triangle center. This correspondence is not bijective. Different functions may define the same triangle center. For example, the functions $f\_1(a,b,c)\; =\; \backslash tfrac\{1\}\{a\}$ and $f\_2(a,b,c)\; =\; bc$ both correspond to the centroid.

Two triangle center functions define the same triangle center if and only if their ratio is a function symmetric in {{mvar|a, b, c}}.

Even if a triangle center function is well-defined everywhere the same cannot always be said for its associated triangle center. For example, let $f(a,b,c)$ be 0 if {{tmath|\tfrac a b}} and {{tmath|\tfrac a c}} are both rational and 1 otherwise. Then for any triangle with integer sides the associated triangle center evaluates to 0:0:0 which is undefined.

In some cases these functions are not defined on the whole of {{tmath|\R^3.}} For example, the trilinears of X₃₆₅ which is the 365th entry in the Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers, are $a^\{1/2\}\; :\; b^\{1/2\}\; :\; c^\{1/2\}$ so {{mvar|a, b, c}} cannot be negative. Furthermore, in order to represent the sides of a triangle they must satisfy the triangle inequality. So, in practice, every function's domain is restricted to the region of {{tmath|\R^3}} where

$$a\; \backslash leq\; b\; +\; c,\; \backslash quad\; b\; \backslash leq\; c\; +\; a,\; \backslash quad\; c\; \backslash leq\; a\; +\; b.$$

This region {{math|T}} is the domain of all triangles, and it is the default domain for all triangle-based functions.

There are various instances where it may be desirable to restrict the analysis to a smaller domain than {{math|T}}. For example:

:*The centers X₃, X₄, X₂₂, X₂₄, X₄₀ make specific reference to acute triangles, namely that region of {{math|T}} where $$a^2\; \backslash leq\; b^2\; +\; c^2,\; \backslash quad\; b^2\; \backslash leq\; c^2\; +\; a^2,\; \backslash quad\; c^2\; \backslash leq\; a^2\; +\; b^2.$$

:*When differentiating between the Fermat point and X₁₃ the domain of triangles with an angle exceeding 2π/3 is important; in other words, triangles for which any of the following is true:

$$a^2\; >\; b^2\; +\; bc\; +\; c^2;\; \backslash quad\; b^2\; >\; c^2\; +\; ca\; +\; a^2;\; \backslash quad\; c^2\; >\; a^2\; +\; ab\; +\; b^2.$$

:*A domain of much practical value since it is dense in {{math|T}} yet excludes all trivial triangles (i.e. points) and degenerate triangles (i.e. lines) is the set of all scalene triangles. It is obtained by removing the planes {{math|1=b = c}}, {{math|1=c = a}}, {{math|1=a = b}} from {{math|T}}.

Not every subset {{math|D ⊆ T}} is a viable domain. In order to support the bisymmetry test {{math|D}} must be symmetric about the planes {{math|1=b = c}}, {{math|1=c = a}}, {{math|1=a = b}}. To support cyclicity it must also be invariant under 2π/3 rotations about the line {{math|1=a = b = c}}. The simplest domain of all is the line {{math|(t, t, t)}} which corresponds to the set of all equilateral triangles.

The point of concurrence of the perpendicular bisectors of the sides of triangle {{math|△ABC}} is the circumcenter. The trilinear coordinates of the circumcenter are

$$a(b^2\; +\; c^2\; -\; a^2)\; :\; b(c^2\; +\; a^2\; -\; b^2)\; :\; c(a^2\; +\; b^2\; -\; c^2).$$

Let $f\backslash left(a,b,c\backslash right)=a\backslash left(b^\{2\}+c^\{2\}-a^\{2\}\backslash right)$ It can be shown that {{mvar|f}} is homogeneous:

$$\backslash begin\{align\}$$

f(ta,tb,tc) &= ta \Bigl[ (tb)^2 + (tc)^2 - (ta)^2 \Bigr] \\[2pt]

&= t^3 \Bigl[ a(b^2 + c^2 - a^2) \Bigr] \\[2pt]

&= t^3 f(a,b,c)

\end{align}

as well as bisymmetric:

$$\backslash begin\{align\}$$

f(a,c,b) &= a(c^2 + b^2 - a^2) \\[2pt]

&= a(b^2 + c^2 - a^2) \\[2pt]

&= f(a,b,c)

\end{align}

so {{mvar|f}} is a triangle center function. Since the corresponding triangle center has the same trilinears as the circumcenter, it follows that the circumcenter is a triangle center.

Let {{math|△A'BC}} be the equilateral triangle having base {{mvar|BC}} and vertex {{mvar|A'}} on the negative side of {{mvar|BC}} and let {{math|△AB'C}} and {{math|△ABC' }} be similarly constructed equilateral triangles based on the other two sides of triangle {{math|△ABC}}. Then the lines {{mvar|AA', BB', CC'}} are concurrent and the point of concurrence is the 1st isogonal center. Its trilinear coordinates are

$\backslash csc\backslash left(A\; +\; \backslash frac\{\backslash pi\}\{3\}\backslash right)\; :\; \backslash csc\backslash left(B\; +\; \backslash frac\{\backslash pi\}\{3\}\backslash right)\; :\; \backslash csc\backslash left(C\; +\; \backslash frac\{\backslash pi\}\{3\}\backslash right).$

Expressing these coordinates in terms of {{mvar|a, b, c}}, one can verify that they indeed satisfy the defining properties of the coordinates of a triangle center. Hence the 1st isogonic center is also a triangle center.

Let

:$$f(a,\; b,\; c)\; =\; \backslash begin\{cases\}$$

1 & \quad \text{if } a^2 > b^2 + bc + c^2 & \iff \text{if } A > 2\pi/3 \\[8pt]

0 & \quad \!\! \displaystyle {{\text{if } b^2 > c^2 + ca + a^2} \atop {\text{ or } c^2 > a^2 + ab + b^2}} & \iff \!\! \displaystyle {{\text{if } B > 2\pi/3} \atop {\text{ or } C > 2\pi/3}} \\[8pt]

\csc(A + \frac{\pi}{3}) & \quad \text{otherwise } & \iff A,B,C > 2\pi/3

\end{cases}

Then {{mvar|f}} is bisymmetric and homogeneous so it is a triangle center function. Moreover, the corresponding triangle center coincides with the obtuse angled vertex whenever any vertex angle exceeds 2π/3, and with the 1st isogonic center otherwise. Therefore, this triangle center is none other than the Fermat point.

{{Main|Brocard points}}

The trilinear coordinates of the first Brocard point are:

$$\backslash frac\{c\}\{b\}\; \backslash \; :\backslash \; \backslash frac\{a\}\{c\}\; \backslash \; :\backslash \; \backslash frac\{b\}\{a\}$$

These coordinates satisfy the properties of homogeneity and cyclicity but not bisymmetry. So the first Brocard point is not (in general) a triangle center. The second Brocard point has trilinear coordinates:

$$\backslash frac\{b\}\{c\}\; \backslash \; :\backslash \; \backslash frac\{c\}\{a\}\; \backslash \; :\backslash \; \backslash frac\{a\}\{b\}$$

and similar remarks apply.

The first and second Brocard points are one of many bicentric pairs of points,[http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/encyclopedia/BicentricPairs.html Bicentric Pairs of Points], Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers, accessed 2012-05-02 pairs of points defined from a triangle with the property that the pair (but not each individual point) is preserved under similarities of the triangle. Several binary operations, such as midpoint and trilinear product, when applied to the two Brocard points, as well as other bicentric pairs, produce triangle centers.

In the following table of more recent triangle centers, no specific notations are mentioned for the various points.

Also for each center only the first trilinear coordinate f(a,b,c) is specified. The other coordinates can be easily derived using the cyclicity property of trilinear coordinates.

In honor of Clark Kimberling who created the online encyclopedia of more than 32,000 triangle centers, the triangle centers listed in the encyclopedia are collectively called Kimberling centers.{{cite web|url=http://mathworld.wolfram.com/KimberlingCenter.html|title=Kimberling Center|last=Weisstein|first=Eric W|work=MathWorld–A Wolfram Web Resource. |access-date=25 May 2009}}

A triangle center {{mvar|P}} is called a polynomial triangle center if the trilinear coordinates of {{mvar|P}} can be expressed as polynomials in {{mvar|a, b, c}}.

A triangle center {{mvar|P}} is called a regular triangle point if the trilinear coordinates of {{mvar|P}} can be expressed as polynomials in {{math|△, a, b, c}}, where {{math|△}} is the area of the triangle.

A triangle center {{mvar|P}} is said to be a major triangle center if the trilinear coordinates of P can be expressed in the form $f(A)\; :\; f(B)\; :\; f(C)$ where {{tmath|f(X)}} is a function of the angle {{mvar|X}} alone and does not depend on the other angles or on the side lengths.{{cite web|url=http://mathworld.wolfram.com/MajorTriangleCenter.html|title=Major Triangle Center|last=Weisstein|first=Eric W|work=MathWorld–A Wolfram Web Resource|access-date=25 May 2009}}

A triangle center {{mvar|P}} is called a transcendental triangle center if {{mvar|P}} has no trilinear representation using only algebraic functions of {{mvar|a, b, c}}.

Let {{mvar|f}} be a triangle center function. If two sides of a triangle are equal (say {{math|1=a = b}}) then

$$\backslash begin\{align\}$$

f(a,b,c) &= f(b,a,c) &(\text{since }a = b)\\

&= f(b,c,a) & \text{(by bisymmetry)}

\end{align}

so two components of the associated triangle center are always equal. Therefore, all triangle centers of an isosceles triangle must lie on its line of symmetry. For an equilateral triangle all three components are equal so all centers coincide with the centroid. So, like a circle, an equilateral triangle has a unique center.

Let

$$f(a,\; b,\; c)\; =\; \backslash begin\{cases\}$$

-1 & \quad \text{if } a \ge b \text{ and } a \ge c, \\

\;\;\; 1 & \quad \text{otherwise}.

\end{cases}

This is readily seen to be a triangle center function and (provided the triangle is scalene) the corresponding triangle center is the excenter opposite to the largest vertex angle. The other two excenters can be picked out by similar functions. However, as indicated above only one of the excenters of an isosceles triangle and none of the excenters of an equilateral triangle can ever be a triangle center.

A function {{mvar|f}} is biantisymmetric if

$$f(a,b,c)\; =\; -f(a,c,b)\; \backslash quad\; \backslash text\{for\; all\}\; \backslash quad\; a,b,c.$$

If such a function is also non-zero and homogeneous it is easily seen that the mapping

$$(a,b,c)\; \backslash to\; f(a,b,c)^2\; \backslash ,\; f(b,c,a)\; \backslash ,\; f(c,a,b)$$

is a triangle center function. The corresponding triangle center is

$$f(a,b,c)\; :\; f(b,c,a)\; :\; f(c,a,b).$$

On account of this the definition of triangle center function is sometimes taken to include non-zero homogeneous biantisymmetric functions.

Any triangle center function {{mvar|f}} can be normalized by multiplying it by a symmetric function of {{mvar|a, b, c}} so that {{math|1=n = 0}}. A normalized triangle center function has the same triangle center as the original, and also the stronger property that

$$f(ta,tb,tc)\; =\; f(a,b,c)\; \backslash quad\; \backslash text\{for\; all\}\; \backslash quad\; t\; >\; 0,\; \backslash \; (a,b,c).$$

Together with the zero function, normalized triangle center functions form an algebra under addition, subtraction, and multiplication. This gives an easy way to create new triangle centers. However distinct normalized triangle center functions will often define the same triangle center, for example {{mvar|f}} and $(abc)^\{-1\}(a+b+c)^3\; f.$

Assume {{mvar|a, b, c}} are real variables and let {{mvar|α, β, γ}} be any three real constants. Let

$$f(a,\; b,\; c)\; =\; \backslash begin\{cases\}$$

\alpha & \quad \text{if } a < b \text{ and } a < c & (a \text{ is least}), \\[2pt]

\gamma & \quad \text{if } a > b \text{ and } a > c & (a \text{ is greatest}), \\[2pt]

\beta & \quad \text{otherwise} & (a \text{ is in the middle}).

\end{cases}

Then {{mvar|f}} is a triangle center function and {{math|α : β : γ}} is the corresponding triangle center whenever the sides of the reference triangle are labelled so that {{math|a < b < c}}. Thus every point is potentially a triangle center. However the vast majority of triangle centers are of little interest, just as most continuous functions are of little interest.

If {{mvar|f}} is a triangle center function then so is {{mvar|af}} and the corresponding triangle center is

$$a\; \backslash ,\; f(a,b,c)\; :\; b\; \backslash ,\; f(b,c,a)\; :\; c\; \backslash ,\; f(c,a,b).$$

Since these are precisely the barycentric coordinates of the triangle center corresponding to {{mvar|f}} it follows that triangle centers could equally well have been defined in terms of barycentrics instead of trilinears. In practice it isn't difficult to switch from one coordinate system to the other.

There are other center pairs besides the Fermat point and the 1st isogonic center. Another system is formed by X₃ and the incenter of the tangential triangle. Consider the triangle center function given by:

$$f(a,\; b,\; c)\; =\; \backslash begin\{cases\}$$

\cos A & \text{if } \triangle \text{ is acute}, \\[2pt]

\cos A + \sec B \sec C & \text{if } \measuredangle A \text{ is obtuse}, \\[2pt]

\cos A - \sec A & \text{if either} \measuredangle B \text{ or } \measuredangle C \text{ is obtuse}.

\end{cases}

For the corresponding triangle center there are four distinct possibilities:

$$\backslash begin\{align\}$$

& \text{if reference } \triangle \text{ is acute:} \quad \cos A \ :\, \cos B \ :\, \cos C \\[6pt]

& \begin{array}{rcccc}

\text{if } \measuredangle A \text{ is obtuse:} & \cos A + \sec B \sec C &:& \cos B - \sec B &:& \cos C - \sec C \\[4pt]

\text{if } \measuredangle B \text{ is obtuse:} & \cos A - \sec A &:& \cos B + \sec C \sec A &:& \cos C - \sec C \\[4pt]

\text{if } \measuredangle C \text{ is obtuse:} & \cos A - \sec A &:& \cos B - \sec B &:& \cos C + \sec A \sec B

\end{array}\end{align}

Note that the first is also the circumcenter.

Routine calculation shows that in every case these trilinears represent the incenter of the tangential triangle. So this point is a triangle center that is a close companion of the circumcenter.

Reflecting a triangle reverses the order of its sides. In the image the coordinates refer to the {{math|(c, b, a)}} triangle and (using "|" as the separator) the reflection of an arbitrary point $\backslash gamma\; :\; \backslash beta\; :\; \backslash alpha$ is $\backslash gamma\backslash \; |\backslash \; \backslash beta\; \backslash \; |\backslash \; \backslash alpha.$ If {{mvar|f}} is a triangle center function the reflection of its triangle center is $f(c,a,b)\backslash \; |\backslash \; f(b,c,a)\backslash \; |\backslash \; f(a,b,c),$ which, by bisymmetry, is the same as $f(c,b,a)\backslash \; |\backslash \; f(b,a,c)\backslash \; |\backslash \; f(a,c,b).$

As this is also the triangle center corresponding to {{mvar|f}} relative to the {{math|(c, b, a)}} triangle, bisymmetry ensures that all triangle centers are invariant under reflection. Since rotations and translations may be regarded as double reflections they too must preserve triangle centers. These invariance properties provide justification for the definition.

Some other names for dilation are uniform scaling, isotropic scaling, homothety, and homothecy.

The study of triangle centers traditionally is concerned with Euclidean geometry, but triangle centers can also be studied in non-Euclidean geometry.{{cite arXiv|last=Russell|first=Robert A.|date=2019-04-18|title=Non-Euclidean Triangle Centers|class=math.MG|eprint=1608.08190}} Triangle centers that have the same form for both Euclidean and hyperbolic geometry can be expressed using gyrotrigonometry.{{cite journal|url=http://ajmaa.org/searchroot/files/pdf/v6n1/v6i1p18.pdf|title=Hyperbolic Barycentric Coordinates|first=Abraham A.|last=Ungar|journal=The Australian Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications|volume=6|issue=1|pages= 1–35|year= 2009}}, article #18{{Cite book |last=Ungar |first=Abraham A. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/663096629 |title=Hyperbolic triangle centers : the special relativistic approach |date=2010 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-90-481-8637-2 |location=Dordrecht |oclc=663096629}}{{Cite book |last=Ungar |first=Abraham Albert |url=https://doi.org/10.1142/7740 |title=Barycentric Calculus in Euclidean and Hyperbolic Geometry |date=August 2010 |publisher=WORLD SCIENTIFIC |isbn=978-981-4304-93-1 |language=en |doi=10.1142/7740}} In non-Euclidean geometry, the assumption that the interior angles of the triangle sum to 180 degrees must be discarded.

Centers of tetrahedra or higher-dimensional simplices can also be defined, by analogy with 2-dimensional triangles.

Some centers can be extended to polygons with more than three sides. The centroid, for instance, can be found for any polygon. Some research has been done on the centers of polygons with more than three sides.{{Cite journal|last1=Al-Sharif|first1=Abdullah|last2=Hajja|first2=Mowaffaq|last3=Krasopoulos|first3=Panagiotis T.|date=November 2009|title=Coincidences of Centers of Plane Quadrilaterals|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00025-009-0417-6|journal=Results in Mathematics|language=en|volume=55|issue=3–4|pages=231–247|doi=10.1007/s00025-009-0417-6|s2cid=122725235|issn=1422-6383}}{{Cite journal|last1=Prieto-Martínez|first1=Luis Felipe|last2=Sánchez-Cauce|first2=Raquel|date=2021-04-02|title=Generalization of Kimberling's Concept of Triangle Center for Other Polygons|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00025-021-01388-4|journal=Results in Mathematics|language=en|volume=76|issue=2|pages=81|doi=10.1007/s00025-021-01388-4|issn=1420-9012|arxiv=2004.01677|s2cid=214795185}}

{{div col}}

• Central line
• Encyclopedia of Triangle Centers
• Triangle conic
• Central triangle
• Modern triangle geometry
• Euler line

{{div col end}}

{{notelist}}

• Manfred Evers, [http://forumgeom.fau.edu/FG2017volume17/FG201733.pdf On Centers and Central Lines of Triangles in the Elliptic Plane]
• Manfred Evers, [http://arxiv.org/abs/1908.11134 On the geometry of a triangle in the elliptic and in the extended hyperbolic plane]
• Clark Kimberling, [http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/tcenters/ Triangle Centers] from University of Evansville
• Ed Pegg, [https://community.wolfram.com/groups/-/m/t/1028357 Triangle Centers in the 2D, 3D, Spherical and Hyperbolic] from Wolfram Research.
• Paul Yiu, [http://math.fau.edu/Yiu/TourOfTriangleGeometry/MAAFlorida37040428.pdf A Tour of Triangle Geometry] from Florida Atlantic University.