Poles, polars and duality - the geometrical approach |
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Key Theorem
Suppose that C is a conic and that P is a fixed point. If the chord AB of C passes through P, then the tangents at A and B meet on a fixed line. Theorem 2 on the algebra page amounts to a proof of this.
Note that, if P is on C, then the line is the tangent at P
To allow us to state this theorem without the need for special cases, This allows us to unify classical theorems. For example,
The Parallel Chords Theorem
In the language of ideal points,
this is just a special case of the Key Theorem
Ideal points also allow us to give a definition of tangent purely in terms of incidence Poles and Polars Provided we allow ideal points and lines, every point has a line associated with it by the Key Theorem.
Definition
By the remark after the Key Theorem, if P lies on C, then the polar of P is the tangent at P. The main result on polars is
La Hire's Theorem
(this is illustrated with Cabri here)
Suppose that we can draw two tangents from the point P to the conic C,
Suppose that C is a conic and that L is a line. Choose points A and B on L.
Definition
Duality with respect to a conic C.
Suppose that C is a fixed conic.
We say that a point and line are incident if the point lies on the line.
The Principle of Duality
Suppose that F is a geometrical figure composed of points and lines.
For convenience, we define a polygon as either In using the Principle of Duality, it is useful to have a table of duals of various concepts.
Now it is routine to write down the dual of any theorem. For example,
Pappus's Theorem Cabri illustration This has as its dual
Brianchon's First Theorem Cabri illustration
Using the traditional focus-directrix definition, we obtain a conic as a set of points
(a point-conic), The figure on the right shows a conic with a few of its tangents.
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It is now natural to ask what happens when we look at the dual of a conic with respect to a different conic.
The Dual Conic Theorem
Proof of the Dual Conic Theorem
Let C be a fixed conic.
We can now extend our table of dual concepts.
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A nice application of the Dual Conic Theorem is to find any common tangents to two given conics.
The Common Tangents Theorem
Proof of the Common Tangents Theorem
Since distinct conics intersect in at most four points,
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Finally, some nice results on quadrilaterals associated with conics.
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