Coordinates of the triangle

June, 2014

Determinants of the triangle centers

Rastko Vukovic1 *

Abstract
Formulas for Cartesian coordinates of orthocenter and circumcenter are expressed by determinants similar to
the area of the triangle. The centroid of the triangle is considered too, but primarily because of comparing and
testing the main results. It is checked that these three points lie on Euler’s line.
Keywords
Triangle — centroid — circumcenter — orthocenter
1 Math teacher in Gimnazija Banja Luka

Contents and similarly for the other sides B1 ∈ CA, C1 ∈ AB. Accord-
ingly, the medians ga = AA1 , gb = BB1 , gc = CC1 of the
Introduction 1 triangle lie on the lines:
1 Orthocenter 1 
 ga : (Gy − Ay )x − (Gx − Ax )y = Ax Gy − Gx Ay ,
2 Circumcenter 2 g : (Gy − By )x − (Gx − Bx )y = Bx Gy − Gx By , (3)
 b
3 Example 3 gc : (Gy −Cy )x − (Gx −Cx )y = Cx Gy − GxCy ,
Acknowledgments 4
where the substitution G(Gx , Gy ) is given by:

Introduction Ax + Bx +Cx Ay + By +Cy

Gx = , Gy = . (4)
Given the triangle ∆ABC by coordinates of the vertices A(Ax , Ay ), 3 3
B(Bx , By ), C(Cx ,Cy ). The oriented area of the triangle is given The sum of all three equations (3) now gives the identity
by: 0 = 0, which means that there is at least one common point
  for all three medians. On the other hand, the triangle non-zero
A Bx Cx 
1  x  area has three different medians which may have at most one
µ(ABC) = Ay By Cy  . (1) common point. That is why we have only one intersection
2
1 1 1 point, the centroid G(Gx , Gy ).
The question is whether it is possible to find some similar
forms for the expression of the triangle centers. First of all, 1. Orthocenter
let us recall a few terms of analytic geometry. Orthocenter H of the triangle ∆ABC is the point of intersection
The sides of the triangle, a = BC, b = CA, c = AB, lie on of the altitudes ha , hb , hc .
the lines: The explicit, “slope-intercept” form of the first (2) equa-
B −C
tion is y = mx + n, where m = Bxy −Cyx is the gradient of the line

 a : (By −Cy )x − (Bx −Cx )y = Cx By − BxCy ,
b : (Cy − Ay )x − (Cx − Ax )y = AxCy −Cx Ay , (2) B C −C B
and n = x Byx −Cxx y is the y intercept. A line perpendicular to a
c : (Ay − By )x − (Ax − Bx )y = Bx Ay − Ax By .

given line has gradient
Note that the sum of these three equations gives a contradic- 1 Bx −Cx
tion. Namely, on the left side the sum is zero, and on the right m⊥ = − =− . (5)
m By −Cy
is the double area of the triangle:
Such are altitudes (heights) of the triangle relative to the sides.
0 = −[Ax (By −Cy ) + Bx (Cy − Ay ) +Cx (Ay − By )], A straight line with the said gradient and that passes point A
has the equation y − Ay = m⊥ (x − Ax ). Hence, the implicit
i.e. 0 = −2µ, which is correct if there is no common point of
line equations on which the heights of the triangle lie:
all three sides of a given triangle. For comparison, let us look
at the equation of medians of the triangle. 
 ha : (Bx −Cx )x + (By −Cy )y = (Bx −Cx )Ax + (By −Cy )Ay ,
The central point of the segment BC has coordinates h : (Cx − Ax )x + (Cy − Ay )y = (Cx − Ax )Bx + (Cy − Ay )By ,
 b

Bx +Cx By +Cy
 hc : (Ax − Bx )x + (Ay − By )y = (Ax − Bx )Cx + (Ay − By )Cy .
A1 , (6)
2 2
 Determinants of the triangle centers — 2/4

Summing the three equations we get zero on both sides, which

means that there is a unique point of intersection of the heights  
BxCx + ByCy Cx Ax +Cy Ay Ax Bx + Ay By 
which we call the orthocenter of the triangle and denote 
H(Hx , Hy ). Moreover, we can choose any two equations of = −  Ay By Cy .

the system (6) and get the solution coordinates of orthocenter.
 1 1 1 

Theorem 1. The intersection of the heights of the triangle is This has shown (9).
the point: Determinant of y is, sequentially:
 
Dx Dy
 
B −Cx (Bx −Cx )Ax + (By −Cy )Ay 
H ,
D D
, (7) Dy =  x =
Cx − Ax (Cx − Ax )Bx + (Cy − Ay )By 
named orthocenter, where
 
Ax Bx Cx  = [(Bx −Cx )(Cx Bx − Ax Bx ) − (Cx − Ax )(Bx Ax −Cx Ax )]
 
D = Ay By Cy  = 2µ. (8)
1 1 1 +[(Bx −Cx )(Cy By − Ay By ) − (Cx − Ax )(By Ay −Cy Ay )]

 
BxCx + ByCy Cx Ax +Cy Ay Ax Bx + Ay By 

Dx = −  Ay By Cy  , (9)
 = [(Bx −Cx )Cx Bx + (Ax − Bx )Bx Ax + (Cx − Ax )Cy Ax ]
 1 1 1 
+[(Bx −Cx )Cy By + (Ax − Bx )By Ay + (Cx − Ax )Cy Ay ]
 
BxCx + ByCy Cx Ax +Cy Ay Ax Bx + Ay By 

Dy = +  Ax Bx Cx  . (10)    
 Cx Bx Cx Ax Bx Ax  Cy By Cy Ay By Ay 
 1 1 1  
=  Ax Bx Cx  +  Ax Bx Cx 
Proof. Look for H ∈ ha ∩ hb . We solve the system of the first  1 1 1   1 1 1 
two of equations (6) using determinants.
Determinant of the system is, sequentially:  
  BxCx + ByCy Cx Ax +Cy Ay Ax Bx + Ay By 
B −Cx By −Cy  
D =  x = =  Ax Bx Cx .
Cx − Ax Cy − Ay   1 1 1


= Ax (By −Cy ) + Bx (Cy − Ay ) +Cx (Ay − By )
  It was proof of (10).
Ax Bx Cx  It is easy to check that by selecting another two of the
 
= Ay By Cy  = 2µ, three equations (6) we get the same result. Accordingly (7),
1 1 1 unique solution of the system (6) is the orthocenter H(Hx , Hy )
i.e. equal to twice the area of a triangle ∆ABC. This has of the triangle with coordinates:
proven (8). Dx Dy
Determinant of x for the first two equations of system (4) Hx = , Hy = ,
D D
is, sequentially:
  where the determinants D, Dx , Dy are as claimed in the theo-
(B −Cx )Ax + (By −Cy )Ay By −Cy 
Dx =  x = rem.
(Cx − Ax )Bx + (Cy − Ay )By Cy − Ay 

    2. Circumcenter
(B −Cx )Ax By −Cy  (By −Cy )Ay By −Cy 
=  x + The circumcenter F is the point where the three perpendicular
(Cx − Ax )Bx Cy − Ay  (Cy − Ay )By Cy − Ay 
bisectors fa , fb , fc of a triangle sides a, b, c meet. That is
the center of circumcircle, the circle that passes through all
= [Ax Bx (By − Ay ) + AxCx (Ay −Cy ) + BxCx (Cy − By )]+ vertices of the triangle.
If the side a = BC of the triangle has a gradient m the
+[Ay By (By − Ay ) + AyCy (Ay −Cy ) + ByCy (Cy − By )] perpendicular bisector fa of the side has the gradient m⊥ =
− m1 , the same as (5) of the altitude ha . But the bisector fa
    passes through the middle of the side, by point
BxCx AxCx Ax Bx  ByCy AyCy Ay By 
  
= −  Ay By Cy  −  Ay By Cy  Bx +Cx By +Cy
 1 A1 , .
1 1   1 1 1  2 2
 Determinants of the triangle centers — 3/4

Then form the line equation with the given gradient through a
given point  2
B + B2y

−A2x − A2y Cx2 +Cy2 
y − A1y = m⊥ (x − A1x ). 1  x
=  By −Ay Cy 
After updating we get implicit equation fa . In this way we 2
1 −1 1 
obtain the equations of all bisectors:
 2 
A + A2y B2x + B2y Cx2 +Cy2 
 fa : (Bx −Cx )x + (By −Cy )y = (B2x −Cx2 + B2y −Cy2 )/2,

1  x
fb (Cx − Ax )x + (Cy − Ay )y = (Cx2 − A2x +Cy2 − A2y )/2, =  Ay By Cy  .
2

fc : (Ax − Bx )x + (Ay − By )y = (A2x − B2x + A2y − B2y )/2. 1 1 1 
(11) Therefore, another determinant (14) is correct.
Determinant variable y is:
This is a dependent, consistent system, because the sum of
Bx −Cx (B2x −Cx2 + B2y −Cy2 )/2
 
all three equations gives identity “zero equals zero”. In other
Dy =  =
words, there is a unique solution, the point F(Fx , Fy ) circum- Cx − Ax (Cx2 − A2x +Cy2 − A2y )/2
center of the triangle whose coordinates satisfy all three equa-
tions (11).  2
(Bx −Cx2 + B2y −Cy2 )/2 Bx −Cx 

Theorem 2. The intersection of the bisectors of the sides is = − 2
 .
(Cx − A2x +Cy2 − A2y )/2 Cx − Ax 
the point:
  We continue as in the previous determinants and obtain:
Dx Dy
F , , (12)  2
A + A2y B2x + B2y Cx2 +Cy2 

D D 1  x 
Dy = −  Ax Bx Cx  .
named circumcenter, where 2
1 1 1 
 
Ax Bx Cx  So, it is true that (15).
 
D = Ay By Cy  = 2µ, (13) Accordingly, the coordinates of circumcenter F(Fx , Fy ) of
1 1 1 a triangle are:
Dx Dy
 2
A + A2y
 Fx = , Fy = ,
B2x + B2y Cx2 +Cy2  D D
1  x
Dx = +  A y By Cy  , (14)
2 which was to be proved.
1 1 1 

 2 
3. Example
A + A2y B2x + B2y Cx2 +Cy2 
1 x Given the triangle A(m, 0), B(n, 0),C(0, p). Show that the
Dy = −  Ax Bx Cx  . (15)
2 center of gravity G, orthocenter H and circumcenter F of this
1 1 1 
triangle are given by:
Proof. Start with the system (11) finding F ∈ fa ∩ fb , i.e. 
m+n p
 
mn
 
m + n mn + p2

solve the first two of the equations by determinants. Deter- G , , H 0, − ,F , (16)
3 3 p 2 2p
minant of the abbreviated system is obviously the same as in
the search for orthocenter (8). So D(F) = D(H) = 2µ(ABC). and that the three points lie on a line, as seen in Figure 1.
This has proven (13).
However, the determinant of x is, successively: Solution. From relation (4), the centroid of G is obviously
 2 true. From (13) we obtain the determinant of the system:
(Bx −Cx2 + B2y −Cy2 )/2 By −Cy 

Dx =  2 =  
 m n 0 
(Cx − A2x +Cy2 − A2y )/2 Cy − Ay   
D(H) = D(F) =  0 0 p = p(n − m), (17)
 1 1 1
 
1 B2x −Cx2 + B2y −Cy2 Cx2 − A2x +Cy2 − A2y 
=  which is common to the orthocenter H and the circumcenter F.
2 By −Cy Cy − Ay 
Determinants (9) and (10) that define the numerator coordinate
orthocenter H are:
 2 
B −Cx2 + B2y −Cy2 Cx2 − A2x +Cy2 − A2y Cx2 +Cy2 
   
0 0 mn  0 0 mn
1  x    
=  By −Cy Cy − Ay Cy  Dx (H) = − 0 0 p  = 0, Dy (H) = m n 0  = mn(m−n).
2
0 0 1  1 1 1  1 1 1 
 Determinants of the triangle centers — 4/4

Acknowledgments
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Figure 1. Triangle A(m, 0), B(n, 0),C(0, p).

Finally, the relevant determinants of the center F circle de-

scribed are:
 2 
m n2 p2 
1  p
0 p  = − (m2 − n2 ),

Dx (F) = +  0
2 2
1 1 1

 2 
m n2 p2 
1  m n
Dy (F) = −  m n 0  = (n2 − p2 ) − (p2 − m2 ).
2 2 2
1 1 1
D
Finding the quotient DDx and Dy separately for H and F deter-
mine that (16) is true.
To prove the collinearity of points G, H, F look for an area
of the triangle ∆GHF. If the area is zero, then the points
mentioned above are co-linear. We have it in the following
order:
   
 m+n 0 m+n  2 0 3 
 3 2 
m+n p
mn+p2  mn+p2 
2µ(GHF) =  3p − mn = − mn =

 p 2p  6 3
 p 2p 
 1 1 1   1 1 1 

 
2 0 0   
m + n  p  m + n  mn mn+p2 p
mn+p2 p − p 2p − 2 
= − mn 2p − 2 
=
6 3 p 3 1
 
 1 −2
−1

1 1 
2

mn mn + p2 p
 
m+n
= − + = 0,
6 2p 2p 2
which means that the center of gravity, the orthocenter and
the circumcenter of triangle are three collinear points.
Note that any triangle can by rotation and translation of
the coordinate system be in the position of the given triangle,
for some numbers m, n, p. In particular, this means that the
center of gravity, the orthocenter and the circumcenter are
three collinear points in any triangle. In geometry, this is
the well known Euler’s line which passes through several
important points determined from the triangle, including the
orthocenter, the circumcenter, the centroid, the Exeter point
and the center of the nine-point circle of the triangle.