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Ptolemy's Theorem

Ptolemy's theorem describes the relationship between the sides and diagonals of a cyclic quadrilateral, stating that the product of the diagonals equals the sum of the products of opposite sides. The theorem has useful corollaries for inscribed polygons, such as equilateral triangles and rectangles, and is foundational in trigonometry, as utilized by Ptolemy and later Copernicus. Additionally, the converse of the theorem confirms that a quadrilateral can be inscribed in a circle if the diagonal product equals the sum of the products of opposite sides.

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65 views3 pages

Ptolemy's Theorem

Ptolemy's theorem describes the relationship between the sides and diagonals of a cyclic quadrilateral, stating that the product of the diagonals equals the sum of the products of opposite sides. The theorem has useful corollaries for inscribed polygons, such as equilateral triangles and rectangles, and is foundational in trigonometry, as utilized by Ptolemy and later Copernicus. Additionally, the converse of the theorem confirms that a quadrilateral can be inscribed in a circle if the diagonal product equals the sum of the products of opposite sides.

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abduvohidodiljonov048
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Ptolemy's theorem

In Euclidean geometry, Ptolemy's theorem is a relation between the four sides and two diagonals of
a cyclic quadrilateral (a quadrilateral whose vertices lie on a common circle). The theorem is named
after the Greek astronomer and mathematician Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus).[1] Ptolemy used the
theorem as an aid to creating his table of chords, a trigonometric table that he applied to astronomy.

Ptolemy's theorem is a relation among these


lengths in a cyclic quadrilateral.

If the vertices of the cyclic quadrilateral are A, B, C, and D in order, then the theorem states that:

This relation may be verbally expressed as follows:

If a quadrilateral is cyclic then the product of the lengths of its diagonals is equal to the sum of the
products of the lengths of the pairs of opposite sides.

Moreover, the converse of Ptolemy's theorem is also true:

In a quadrilateral, if the sum of the products of the lengths of its two pairs of opposite sides is equal
to the product of the lengths of its diagonals, then the quadrilateral can be inscribed in a circle i.e. it
is a cyclic quadrilateral.

To appreciate the utility and general significance of Ptolemy’s Theorem, it is especially useful to
study its main Corollaries.
Corollaries on inscribed polygons

Equilateral triangle

Equilateral triangle

Ptolemy's Theorem yields as a corollary a pretty theorem[2] regarding an equilateral triangle


inscribed in a circle.

Given An equilateral triangle inscribed on a circle, and a point on the circle.

The distance from the point to the most distant vertex of the triangle is the sum of the distances
from the point to the two nearer vertices.

Proof: Follows immediately from Ptolemy's theorem:

Square

Any square can be inscribed in a circle whose center is the center of the square. If the common
length of its four sides is equal to then the length of the diagonal is equal to according to the
Pythagorean theorem, and Ptolemy's relation obviously holds.
Rectangle

Pythagoras's theorem: "manifestum


est": Copernicus

More generally, if the quadrilateral is a rectangle with sides a and b and diagonal d then Ptolemy's
theorem reduces to the Pythagorean theorem. In this case the center of the circle coincides with the
point of intersection of the diagonals. The product of the diagonals is then d2, the right hand side of
Ptolemy's relation is the sum a2 + b2.

Copernicus – who used Ptolemy's theorem extensively in his trigonometrical work – refers to this
result as a 'Porism' or self-evident corollary:

Furthermore it is clear (manifestum est) that when the chord subtending an arc has been given, that
chord too can be found which subtends the rest of the semicircle.[3]

Pentagon

The golden ratio follows from this


application of Ptolemy's theorem

A more interesting example is the relation between the length a of the side and the (common)
length b of the 5 chords in a regular pentagon. By completing the square, the relation yields the

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