Trigonometric Proof of Steiner-Lehmus

Theorem in Hyperbolic Geometry

C at alin Barbu
Abstract
In this note, we present a short trigonometric proof to the
Steiner - Lehmus Theorem in hyperbolic geometry.
2000 Mathematical Subject Classication: 30F45, 20N99,
51B10, 51M10
Keywords and phrases: hyperbolic geometry, hyperbolic triangle,
gyro-vector
1. Introduction
Hyperbolic Geometry appeared in the rst half of the 19
th
century
as an attempt to understand Euclids axiomatic basis of Geometry. It is
also known as a type of non-Euclidean Geometry, being in many respects
similar to Euclidean Geometry. Hyperbolic Geometry includes similar
concepts as distance and angle. Both these geometries have many results
in common but many are dierent.
1
There are known many models for Hyperbolic Geometry, such as:
Poincar disc model, Poincar half-plane, Klein model, Einstein rela-
tivistic velocity model, etc. In this note we choose the Poincar disc
model in order to present the hyperbolic version of the Steiner-Lehmus
theorem. We mention that N.Sonmez[9] has presented a trigonomet-
ric proof for the Poincar half plane model but his approach is dif-
ferent than ours. The Euclidean version of this well-known theorem
states that if the internal angle bisectors of two angles of a triangle
are equal, then the triangle is isosceles (see the book of H.S.M.Coxeter
and S.L.Greitzer [2,pp.14-16]). This result has a simple statement but it
is of great interest. We just mention here few dierent proofs given by
O.A.AbuArqob, H.E.Rabadi, J.S.Khitan[1], G.Gilbert, D.MacDonnell[3],
H.Hajja[4], M.Levin[5], J.V.Malesevic[6] and A.P.Pargeter[8].
We begin with the recall of some basic geometric notions and prop-
erties in the Poincar disc. Let 1 denote the unit disc in the complex .
- plane, i.e.
1 = . C : [.[ < 1
The most general Mbius transformation of 1 is
. c
i
.
0
+ .
1 + .
0
.
= c
i
(.
0
.).
which induces the Mbius addition in 1, allowing the Mbius trans-
formation of the disc to be viewed as a Mbius left gyro-translation
. .
0
. =
.
0
+ .
1 + .
0
.
followed by a rotation. Here o R is a real number, .. .
0
1. and .
0
is
the complex conjugate of .
0
. Let nt(1. ) be the automorphism group
2
of the grupoid (1. ). If we dene
q: : 1 1 nt(1. ). q:[c. /] =
c /
/ c
=
1 + c/
1 + c/
.
then is true gyro-commutative law
c / = q:[c. /](/ c).
A gyro-vector space (G. . ) is a gyro-commutative gyro-group
(G. ) that obeys the following axioms:
(1) q:[u. v]a q:[u. v]b = a b for all points a. b. u. v G.
(2) G admits a scalar multiplication, , possessing the following prop-
erties. For all real numbers :. :
1
. :
2
R and all points a G:
(G1) 1 a = a
(G2) (:
1
+ :
2
) a = :
1
a :
2
a
(G3) (:
1
:
2
) a = :
1
(:
2
a)
(G4)
jrja
krak
=
a
kak
(G5) q:[u. v](: a) = : q:[u. v]a
(G6) q:[:
1
v. :
1
v] =1
(3) Real vector space structure (|G| . . ) for the set |G| of one-
dimensional "vectors"
|G| = |a| : a G R
with vector addition and scalar multiplication . such that for all
: R and a. b G.
(G7) |: a| = [:[ |a|
(G8) |a b| _ |a| |b|
3
Lemma. Let 1C be a gyro-triangle in a Mbius gyro-vector space
(\
s
. . ).with vertices . 1. C, corresponding gyro-angles c. ,. . 0 <
c+, + < :, and side gyro-lengths (or, simply, sides) c. /. c. The gyro-
angles of the gyro-triangle 1C are determined by its sides :
cos c =
c
2
s
+ /
2
s
+ c
2
s
c
2
s
/
2
s
c
2
s
2/
s
c
s

1
1 c
2
s
.
cos , =
c
2
s
/
2
s
+ c
2
s
c
2
s
/
2
s
c
2
s
2c
s
c
s

1
1 /
2
s
.
cos =
c
2
s
+ /
2
s
c
2
s
c
2
s
/
2
s
c
2
s
2/
s
c
s

1
1 c
2
s
.
with c
s
=
a
s
(see [10, pp.259]).
For further details we refer to the recent book of A.Ungar [10].
2. Main result
The hyperbolic version of the classical Steiner-Lehmus Theorem is
the following.
Theorem. If the internal angle bisectors of two angles of a triangle
are equal, then the triangle is not isosceles.
Proof. Let 1C be a hyperbolic triangle in the Poincar disc, whose
vertices are the points . 1 and C of the disc whose sides (directed
counterclockwise) are a = 1 C. b = C and c = 1.
Let 11
0
and CC
0
be the respective internal angle bisectors of angles
1 and C in triangle 1C (See Figure).We take c := [1 C[ . / :=
[c [ . c := [ 1[ . r := d(1. 1
0
) = d(C. C
0
). n := d(C. 1
0
). :=
d(1. C
0
). 1 = 2,. C = 2 . Let 1 C ( .e. , ). Then, cos , < cos
(,. (0.

2
)). If we use the result contained in the previous Lemma in
4
triangles 11
0
C and CC
0
1 then we get:
cos , =
n
2
+ r
2
+ c
2
n
2
r
2
c
2
2rc

1
1 n
2
.
cos =

2
+ r
2
+ c
2

2
r
2
c
2
2rc

1
1
2
.
This implies
cos ,cos =
1
2rc

n
2
+ r
2
+ c
2
n
2
r
2
c
2
1 n
2


2
+ r
2
+ c
2

2
r
2
c
2
1
2

=
(
2
n
2
)(1 + c
2
r
2
r
2
c
2
)
2rc(1 n
2
)(1
2
)
=
( n)( + n)(1 r
2
)(1 c
2
)
2rc(1 n
2
)(1
2
)
< 0
Now we use the following theorem: If triangles 1C and
0
1
0
C
0
have
1 =
0
1
0
and C =
0
C
0
.then 1C < 1
0
C
0
if and only if ^ < ^
0
.
E.Moise [7, p.121] calls this the "Hinge Theorem" and the result is valid in
Absolute Geometry. Applying this result in triangles 1C1
0
and 1CC
0
it follows < n , hence the relation
(vu)(v+u)(1x
2
)(1a
2
)
2xa(1u
2
)(1v
2
)
< 0 is true.
Consequently, the case 1 C is satised while d(1. 1
0
) = d(C. C
0
).
therefore the triangle 1C cannot be isosceles.
5
References
[1] AbuArqob,O.A.,Rabadi,H.E.,Khitan,J.S.,A New Proof for the Steiner-
Lehmus Theorem, International Mathematical Forum, 3,2008, no.20, 267-
970.
[2] Coxeter,H.S.M.,Greitzer,S.L.,Geometry Revisited, The Mathematical As-
sociation of America, 1967.
[3] Gilbert,G.,MacDonnell,D.,The Steiner-Lehmus Theorem, The American
Mathematical Monthly, Vol.70, 1963, pp.79-80.
[4] Hajja,H.,A Short Trigonometric Proof of the Steiner-Lehmus Theorem,
Forum Geometricorum, Vol.8, 39-42(2008).
[5] Levin,M.,On the Steiner-Lehmus Theorem, Mathematics Magazine,
Vol.47, 1974, pp.87-89.
[6] Malesevic,J.V.,A Direct Proof of the Steiner-Lehmus Theorem, Mathe-
matics Magazine, Vol.43, 1970, pp.101-102.
[7] Moise, E.E.,Elementary Geometry from on Advanced Standpoint, Addi-
son Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., Rerading, 1990.
[8] Pargeter,A.P.,Steiner-Lehmus theorem: a direct proof, The Mathematical
Gazette, Vol.55, No.391, 1971, p.58.
[9] Sonmez,N.,Trigonometric Proof of Steiner-Lehmus Theorem in Hyper-
bolic Geometry, KoG 12-2008, 35-36.
6
[10] Ungar, A.A.,Analytic Hyperbolic Geometry and Albert Einsteins Special
Theory of Relativity, Hackensack, NJ:World Scientic Publishing Co.Pte.
Ltd., 2008.
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