Euler's theorem in geometry

Euler's theorem:
${\displaystyle d=|IO|={\sqrt {R(R-2r)}}}$

In geometry, Euler's theorem states that the distance d between the circumcenter and incenter of a triangle is given by^[1][2] $${\displaystyle d^{2}=R(R-2r)}$$ or equivalently $${\displaystyle {\frac {1}{R-d}}+{\frac {1}{R+d}}={\frac {1}{r}},}$$ where ${\displaystyle R}$ and ${\displaystyle r}$ denote the circumradius and inradius respectively (the radii of the circumscribed circle and inscribed circle respectively). The theorem is named for Leonhard Euler, who published it in 1765.^[3] However, the same result was published earlier by William Chapple in 1746.^[4]

From the theorem follows the Euler inequality:^[5] $${\displaystyle R\geq 2r,}$$ which holds with equality only in the equilateral case.^[6]

Stronger version of the inequality

A stronger version^[6] is $${\displaystyle {\frac {R}{r}}\geq {\frac {abc+a^{3}+b^{3}+c^{3}}{2abc}}\geq {\frac {a}{b}}+{\frac {b}{c}}+{\frac {c}{a}}-1\geq {\frac {2}{3}}\left({\frac {a}{b}}+{\frac {b}{c}}+{\frac {c}{a}}\right)\geq 2,}$$ where ${\displaystyle a}$, ${\displaystyle b}$, and ${\displaystyle c}$ are the side lengths of the triangle.

Euler's theorem for the escribed circle

If ${\displaystyle r_{a}}$ and ${\displaystyle d_{a}}$ denote respectively the radius of the escribed circle opposite to the vertex ${\displaystyle A}$ and the distance between its center and the center of the circumscribed circle, then ${\displaystyle d_{a}^{2}=R(R+2r_{a})}$.

Euler's inequality in absolute geometry

Euler's inequality, in the form stating that, for all triangles inscribed in a given circle, the maximum of the radius of the inscribed circle is reached for the equilateral triangle and only for it, is valid in absolute geometry.^[7]

See also

• Fuss' theorem for the relation among the same three variables in bicentric quadrilaterals
• Poncelet's closure theorem, showing that there is an infinity of triangles with the same two circles (and therefore the same R, r, and d)
• Egan conjecture, generalization to higher dimensions
• List of triangle inequalities

References

1. Johnson, Roger A. (2007) [1929], Advanced Euclidean Geometry, Dover Publ., p. 186
2. Dunham, William (2007), The Genius of Euler: Reflections on his Life and Work, Spectrum Series, vol. 2, Mathematical Association of America, p. 300, ISBN 9780883855584
3. Leversha, Gerry; Smith, G. C. (November 2007), "Euler and triangle geometry", The Mathematical Gazette, 91 (522): 436–452, doi:10.1017/S0025557200182087, JSTOR 40378417, S2CID 125341434
4. Chapple, William (1746), "An essay on the properties of triangles inscribed in and circumscribed about two given circles", Miscellanea Curiosa Mathematica, 4: 117–124. The formula for the distance is near the bottom of p.123.
5. Alsina, Claudi; Nelsen, Roger (2009), When Less is More: Visualizing Basic Inequalities, Dolciani Mathematical Expositions, vol. 36, Mathematical Association of America, p. 56, ISBN 9780883853429
6. Svrtan, Dragutin; Veljan, Darko (2012), "Non-Euclidean versions of some classical triangle inequalities", Forum Geometricorum, 12: 197–209; see p. 198
7. Pambuccian, Victor; Schacht, Celia (2018), "Euler's inequality in absolute geometry", Journal of Geometry, 109 (Art. 8): 1–11, doi:10.1007/s00022-018-0414-6, S2CID 125459983

External links

• Weisstein, Eric W., "Euler Triangle Formula", MathWorld