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# Geometry question

You are given a circle in the plane whose center is marked. Is it possible to construct a pair of perpendicular diameters of this circle using only a straightedge?

Note by Mitya Boyarchenko
4 years ago

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It is possible via the Poncelet–Steiner theorem. By reviewing the proof, you can figure out how to do it. The relevant sections are Prelim. 1a. and Prelim 2. Construct a diameter of the circle. Make a line parallel to it that is not a diameter and that intersects the circle at two points U and V (Prelim 1a). Construct the diameter UU'. Connect U' and V. U'V is perpendicular to the original diameter. Make a line parallel to it that crosses the origin (Prelim 1a) and you're done. I'm not sure if there's a simpler solution. · 4 years ago

That's a powerful result! I didn't know this approach before -- the solution I've seen was specific to this problem. · 4 years ago

Could you share it? · 4 years ago

I can indeed. I don't know -- perhaps by analyzing all the details carefully, one could discover that this method is essentially equivalent to the more general approach that Colby proposed. However, it should at least be easier to remember. I should also give credit to my friend Apoorva K. for sharing this problem and explaining the solution to me.

Step 1. Draw an arbitrary diameter of your circle. Then show that it is enough to construct one chord of the circle that is perpendicular to this diameter. (Let me know if you want additional details for this step; it is not hard to figure out what to do once you have a chord that is perpendicular to your diameter, but it's kind of a pain to write out all the steps.)

Step 2. The fun part is getting a chord perpendicular to your diameter. Let's say that your diameter is AB. Choose two arbitrary points C and D on your circle, so that they are on the same side of the line AB and such that the order in which the four points appear on the circle is this: A, C, D, B. Draw the lines AC and BD. Call E their point of intersection. Now consider the triangle $$\triangle$$AEB.

Note that the angle $$\angle$$ADB is a right angle (because AB is a diameter of your circle and D lies on the circle). So the line AD is an altitude of the triangle $$\triangle$$AEB. Similarly, the line BC is an altitude of the triangle $$\triangle$$AEB. Let F be the intersection point of AD and BC. Then, by a famous theorem, the line EF is also an altitude of the triangle $$\triangle$$AEB -- and there you have your chord that is perpendicular to the diameter AB. · 4 years ago

A simpler solution after getting a parallel chord:

Call the diameter $$AB$$ and the parallel chord $$UV$$ such that $$A,U,V,B$$ appear in that order along an arc. Draw $$AV$$ and $$BU$$ and call the intersection $$M$$. Call the center $$O$$; draw the line $$MO$$. This is a diameter perpendicular to $$AB$$.

My proof utilizes the fact that $$AUVB$$ is isosceles and hence the entire thing is symmetric over $$MO$$. We can relabel $$A \to B, B \to A, U \to V, V \to U$$ and then reflect the entire thing over a line perpendicular to $$AB$$. $$MO$$ will have a different slope except if it's perpendicular or parallel to $$AB$$. The latter case is impossible as $$M$$ won't be on $$AB$$ ($$AV$$ crosses $$AB$$ at $$A$$, $$BU$$ crosses $$AB$$ at $$B$$, and $$A \neq B$$, so the intersection $$M$$ cannot be on $$AB$$), so $$MO$$ must be perpendicular to $$AB$$. · 4 years ago