b

Forum Geometricorum
Volume 11 (2011) 65–82. b b

FORUM GEOM
ISSN 1534-1178

More Characterizations of Tangential Quadrilaterals

Martin Josefsson

Abstract. In this paper we will prove several not so well known conditions for
a quadrilateral to have an incircle. Four of these are different excircle versions
of the characterizations due to Wu and Vaynshtejn.

1. Introduction
In the wonderful paper [13] Nicuşor Minculete gave a survey of some known
characterizations of tangential quadrilaterals and also proved a few new ones. This
paper can to some extent be considered a continuation to [13].
A tangential quadrilateral is a convex quadrilaterals with an incircle, that is a
circle tangent to all four sides. Other names for these quadrilaterals are1 tangent
quadrilateral, circumscribed quadrilateral, circumscribable quadrilateral, circum-
scribing quadrilateral, inscriptable quadrilateral and circumscriptible quadrilateral.
The names inscriptible quadrilateral and inscribable quadrilateral have also been
used, but sometimes they refer to a quadrilateral with a circumcircle (a cyclic
quadrilateral) and are not good choices because of this ambiguity. To avoid confu-
sion with so many names we suggest that only the names tangential quadrilateral
(or tangent quadrilateral) and circumscribed quadrilateral be used. This is sup-
ported from the number of hits on Google2 and the fact that both MathWorld and
Wikipedia uses the name tangential quadrilateral in their encyclopedias.
Not all quadrilaterals are tangential,3 hence they must satisfy some condition.
The most important and perhaps oldest such condition is the Pitot theorem, that a
quadrilateral ABCD with consecutive sides a, b, c and d is tangential if and only
if the sums of opposite sides are equal: AB + CD = BC + DA, that is
a + c = b + d. (1)
It is named after the French engineer Henri Pitot (1695-1771) who proved that this
is a necessary condition in 1725; that it is also a sufficient condition was proved by
the Swiss mathematician Jakob Steiner (1796-1863) in 1846 according to F. G.-M.
[7, p.319].

Publication Date: March 18, 2011. Communicating Editor: Paul Yiu.

1
In decreasing order of the number of hits on Google.
2
Tangential, tangent and circumscribed quadrilateral represent about 80 % of the number of hits
on Google, so the other six names are rarely used.
3
For example, a rectangle has no incircle.
66 M. Josefsson

The proof of the direct theorem is an easy application of the two tangent theo-
rem, that two tangents to a circle from an external point are of equal length. We
know of four different proofs of the converse to this important theorem, all beauti-
ful in their own way. The first is a classic that uses a property of the perpendicular
bisectors to the sides of a triangle [2, pp.135-136], the second is a proof by con-
tradiction [10, pp.62-64], the third uses an excircle to a triangle [12, p.69] and the
fourth is an exquisite application of the Pythagorean theorem [1, pp.56-57]. The
first two of these can also be found in [3, pp.65-67].
Two similar characterizations are the following ones. If ABCD is a convex
quadrilateral where opposite sides AB and CD intersect at E, and the sides AD
and BC intersect at F (see Figure 1), then ABCD is a tangential quadrilateral if
and only if either of
BE + BF = DE + DF,
AE − AF = CE − CF.
These are given as problems in [3] and [14], where the first condition is proved
using contradiction in [14, p.147]; the second is proved in the same way4.

F
b

D b

c
b
C

d
b

A
b b b
E
a B

Figure 1. The extensions of the sides

2. Incircles in a quadrilateral and its subtriangles

One way of proving a new characterization is to show that it is equivalent to a
previously proved one. This method will be used several times henceforth. In this
section we prove three characterizations of tangential quadrilaterals by showing
that they are equivalent to (1). The first was proved in another way in [19].
Theorem 1. A convex quadrilateral is tangential if and only if the incircles in the
two triangles formed by a diagonal are tangent to each other.

4In [3, pp.186-187] only the direct theorems (not the converses) are proved.
More characterizations of tangential quadrilaterals 67

Proof. In a convex quadrilateral ABCD, let the incircles in triangles ABC, CDA,
BCD and DAB be tangent to the diagonals AC and BD at the points X, Y , Z
and W respectively (see Figure 2). First we prove that
ZW = 1 a − b + c − d = XY.
 
2
Using the two tangent theorem, we have BW = a − w and BZ = b − z, so
ZW = BW − BZ = a − w − b + z.
In the same way DW = d − w and DZ = c − z, so
ZW = DZ − DW = c − z − d + w.
Adding these yields
2ZW = a − w − b + z + c − z − d + w = a − b + c − d.
Hence
ZW = 12 a − b + c − d
 

where we put an absolute value since Z and W can “change places” in some quadri-
laterals; that is, it is possible for W to be closer to B than Z is. Then we would
have ZW = 12 (−a + b − c + d).

C
b

z
z
b

c−z
b

D b

W b−z
d−w b

Z
b

w
b b b

A w a−w B

Figure 2. Incircles on both sides of one diagonal

The formula for XY is derived in the same way.

Now two incircles on different sides of a diagonal are tangent to each other if
and only if XY = 0 or ZW = 0. These are equivalent to a + c = b + d, which
proves the theorem according to the Pitot theorem. 
Another way of formulating this result is that the incircles in the two triangles
formed by one diagonal in a convex quadrilateral are tangent to each other if and
only if the incircles in the two triangles formed by the other diagonal are tangent
to each other. These two tangency points are in general not the same point, see
Figure 3, where the notations are different from those in Figure 2.
68 M. Josefsson

Theorem 2. The incircles in the four overlapping triangles formed by the diago-
nals of a convex quadrilateral are tangent to the sides in eight points, two per side,
making one distance between tangency points per side. It is a tangential quadri-
lateral if and only if the sums of those distances at opposite sides are equal.
Proof. According to the two tangent theorem, AZ = AY , BS = BT , CU = CV
and DW = DX, see Figure 3. Using the Pitot theorem, we get
AB + CD = BC + DA
⇔ AZ + ZS + BS + CV + V W + DW = BT + T U + CU + DX + XY + AY
⇔ ZS + V W = T U + XY
after cancelling eight terms. This is what we wanted to prove. 

C
b

V b

W
D b
b b
U

X b

b
T

Y b

b b b b

A B
Z S

Figure 3. Incircles on both sides of both diagonals

The configuration with the four incircles in the last two theorems has other in-
teresting properties. If the quadrilateral ABCD is cyclic, then the four incenters
are the vertices of a rectangle, see [2, p.133] or [3, pp.44-46].
A third example where the Pitot theorem is used to prove another characteri-
zation of tangential quadrilaterals is the following one, which is more or less the
same as one given as a part of a Russian solution (see [18]) to a problem we will
discuss in more detail in Section 4.
Theorem 3. A convex quadrilateral is subdivided into four nonoverlapping trian-
gles by its diagonals. Consider the four tangency points of the incircles in these
triangles on one of the diagonals. It is a tangential quadrilateral if and only if the
distance between two tangency points on one side of the second diagonal is equal
to the distance between the two tangency points on the other side of that diagonal.
Proof. Here we cite the Russian proof given in [18]. We use notations as in Fig-
′ ′
ure 4 and shall prove that the quadrilateral has an incircle if and only if T1 T2 =
′ ′
T3 T4 .
More characterizations of tangential quadrilaterals 69

By the two tangent theorem we have

′′ ′′
AT1 = AT1 = AP − P T1 ,
′ ′
BT1 = BT1 = BP − P T1 ,
so that
′′ ′
AB = AT1 + BT1 = AP + BP − P T1 − P T1 .
′′ ′
Since P T1 = P T1 ,
′
AB = AP + BP − 2P T1 .
In the same way
′
CD = CP + DP − 2P T3 .
Adding the last two equalities yields
′ ′
AB + CD = AC + BD − 2T1 T3 .

D b

b
T3
T4 b b b C
′ ′
T4 b
T3
b

T4
′′
′
b
T2
b
P b
T2
b

′′
T1 ′
b

T1

b b b

A B
T1

Figure 4. Tangency points of the four incircles

In the same way we get

′ ′
BC + DA = AC + BD − 2T2 T4 .
Thus  ′ ′ 
′ ′
AB + CD − BC − DA = −2 T1 T3 − T2 T4 .
The quadrilateral has an incircle if and only if AB + CD = BC + DA. Hence it
is a tangential quadrilateral if and only if
′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′
T1 T3 = T2 T4 ⇔ T1 T2 +T2 T3 = T2 T3 +T3 T4 ⇔ T1 T2 = T3 T4 .
′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′ ′
Note that both T1 T3 = T2 T4 and T1 T2 = T3 T4 are characterizations of tangential
quadrilaterals. It was the first of these two that was proved in [18]. 
70 M. Josefsson

3. Characterizations with inradii, altitudes and exradii

According to Wu Wei Chao (see [20]), a convex quadrilateral ABCD is tangen-
tial if and only if
1 1 1 1
+ = + ,
r1 r3 r2 r4
where r1 , r2 , r3 and r4 are the inradii in triangles ABP , BCP , CDP and DAP
respectively, and P is the intersection of the diagonals, see Figure 5.

D
b

b
b
b

b
r3 b C
b

h4 h3
r4 b
h2 b

b
b
b

P r2

b
h1

r1

b b b b

A B

Figure 5. The inradii and altitudes

In [13] Nicuşor Minculete proved in two different ways that another characteri-
zation of tangential quadrilaterals is5
1 1 1 1
+ = + , (2)
h1 h3 h2 h4
where h1 , h2 , h3 and h4 are the altitudes in triangles ABP , BCP , CDP and
DAP from P to the sides AB, BC, CD and DA respectively, see Figure 5. These
two characterizations are closely related to the following one.
Theorem 4. A convex quadrilateral ABCD is tangential if and only if
1 1 1 1
+ = +
R1 R3 R2 R4
where R1 , R2 , R3 and R4 are the exradii to triangles ABP , BCP , CDP and
DAP opposite the vertex P , the intersection of the diagonals AC and BD.
Proof. In a triangle, an exradius Ra is related to the altitudes by the well known
relation
1 1 1 1
=− + + . (3)
Ra ha hb hc

5
Although he used different notations.
More characterizations of tangential quadrilaterals 71

If we denote the altitudes from A and C to the diagonal BD by hA and hC respec-

tively and similar for the altitudes to AC, see Figure 6, then we have
1 1 1 1
= − + + ,
R1 h1 hA hB
1 1 1 1
= − + + ,
R2 h2 hB hC
1 1 1 1
= − + + ,
R3 h3 hC hD
1 1 1 1
= − + + .
R4 h4 hD hA
Using these, we get
 
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
+ − − =− + − − .
R1 R3 R2 R4 h1 h3 h2 h4
Hence
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
+ = + ⇔ + = + .
R1 R3 R2 R4 h1 h3 h2 h4
Since the equality to the right is a characterization of tangential quadrilaterals ac-
cording to (2), so is the equality to the left. 

R3
b

b
C
b

D P
b

R2
hA
hB
b
h1 b

R4
b b b b B
A

R1

Figure 6. Excircles to four subtriangles

72 M. Josefsson

4. Christopher Bradley’s conjecture and its generalizations

Consider the following problem:
In a tangential quadrilateral ABCD, let P be the intersection of the diagonals
AC and BD. Prove that the incenters of triangles ABP , BCP , CDP and DAP
form a cyclic quadrilateral. See Figure 7.

C
b

D b
b

b b

A B

Figure 7. Christopher Bradley’s conjecture

This problem appeared at the CTK Exchange6 on September 17, 2003 [17],
where it was debated for a month. On Januari 2, 2004, it migrated to the Hy-
acinthos problem solving group at Yahoo [15], and after a week a full synthetic
solution with many extra properties of the configuration was given by Darij Grin-
berg [8] with the help of many others.
So why was this problem called Christopher Bradley’s conjecture? In November
2004 a paper about cyclic quadrilaterals by the British mathematician Christopher
Bradley was published, where the above problem was stated as a conjecture (see
[4, p.430]). Our guess is that the conjecture was also published elsewhere more
than a year earlier, which explains how it appeared at the CTK Exchange.
A similar problem, that is almost the converse, was given in 1998 by Toshio
Seimiya in the Canadian problem solving journal Crux Mathematicorum [16]:
Suppose ABCD is a convex cyclic quadrilateral and P is the intersection of
the diagonals AC and BD. Let I1 , I2 , I3 and I4 be the incenters of triangles
P AB, P BC, P CD and P DA respectively. Suppose that I1 , I2 , I3 and I4 are con-
cyclic. Prove that ABCD has an incircle.
The next year a beautiful solution by Peter Y. Woo was published in [16]. He
generalized the problem to the following very nice characterization of tangential
quadrilaterals:
When a convex quadrilateral is subdivided into four nonoverlapping triangles
by its two diagonals, then the incenters of the four triangles are concyclic if and
only if the quadrilateral has an incircle.
6
It was formulated slightly different, where the use of the word inscriptable led to a
misunderstanding.
More characterizations of tangential quadrilaterals 73

There was however an even earlier publication of Woo’s generalization. Accord-

ing to [8], the Russian magazine Kvant published in 1996 (see [18]) a solution by
I. Vaynshtejn to the problem we have called Christopher Bradley’s conjecture and
its converse (see the formulation by Woo). [18] is written in Russian, so neither we
nor many of the readers of Forum Geometricorum will be able to read that proof.
But anyone interested in geometry can with the help of the figures understand the
equations there, since they are written in the Latin alphabet.
Earlier we saw that Minculete’s characterization with incircles was also true for
excircles (Theorem 4). Then we might wonder if Vaynshtejn’s characterization is
also true for excircles? The answer is yes and it was proved by Nikolaos Dergiades
at [6], even though he did not state it as a characterization of tangential quadrilat-
erals. The proof given here is a small expansion of his.
Theorem 5 (Dergiades). A convex quadrilateral ABCD with diagonals intersect-
ing at P is tangential if and only if the four excenters to triangles ABP , BCP ,
CDP and DAP opposite the vertex P are concyclic.
Proof. In a triangle ABC with sides a, b, c and semiperimeter s, where I and J1 are
the incenter and excenter opposite A respectively, and where r and Ra are the radii
Ra
in the incircle and excircle respectively, we have AI = sinr A and AJ1 = sin A .
2 2
Using Heron’s formula T 2 = s(s−a)(s−b)(s−c) and other well known formulas7 ,
we have
1 T T bc
AI · AJ1 = r · Ra · 2 A
= · · = bc. (4)
sin 2 s s − a (s − b)(s − c)
Similar formulas hold for the other excenters.
Returning to the quadrilateral, let I1 , I2 , I3 and I4 be the incentes and J1 , J2 , J3
and J4 the excenters opposite P in triangles ABP, BCP, CDP and DAP respec-
tively. Using (4) we get (see Figure 8)
P I1 · P J1 = P A · P B,
P I2 · P J2 = P B · P C,
P I3 · P J3 = P C · P D,
P I4 · P J4 = P D · P A.
From these we get
P I1 · P I3 · P J1 · P J3 = P A · P B · P C · P D = P I2 · P I4 · P J2 · P J4 .
Thus
P I1 · P I3 = P I2 · P I4 ⇔ P J1 · P J3 = P J2 · P J4 .
In his proof [16], Woo showed that the quadrilateral has an incircle if and only if
the equality to the left is true. Hence the quadrilateral has an incircle if and only if
the equality to the right is true. Both of these equalities are conditions for the four
points I1 , I2 , I3 , I4 and J1 , J2 , J3 , J4 to be concyclic according to the converse of
the intersecting chords theorem. 
7Here and a few times later on we use the half angle theorems. For a derivation, see [9, p.158].
74 M. Josefsson

J3

b
C J2

b b
I3
D b

b
b
I2
I4 P
J4 b
b
I1

b b B
A

J1
b

Figure 8. An excircle version of Vaynshtejn’s characterization

Figure 8 suggests that J1 J3 ⊥J2 J4 and I1 I3 ⊥I2 I4 . These are true in all convex
quadrilaterals, and the proof is very simple. The incenters and excenters lies on the
angle bisectors to the angles between the diagonals. Hence we have ∠J4 P J1 =
∠I4 P I1 = 12 ∠DP B = π2 .
Another characterization related to the configuration of Christopher Bradley’s
conjecture is the following one. This is perhaps not one of the nicest characteriza-
tions, but the connection between opposite sides is present here as well as in many
others. That the equality in the theorem is true in a tangential quadrilateral was
established at [5].
Theorem 6. A convex quadrilateral ABCD with diagonals intersecting at P is
tangential if and only if
(AP + BP − AB)(CP + DP − CD) (BP + CP − BC)(DP + AP − DA)
= .
(AP + BP + AB)(CP + DP + CD) (BP + CP + BC)(DP + AP + DA)
Proof. In a triangle ABC with sides a, b and c, the distance from vertex A to the
incenter I is given by
q
(s−a)(s−b)(s−c) r r
r s bc(s − a) bc(−a + b + c)
AI = A
= q = = . (5)
sin 2 (s−b)(s−c) s a+b+c
bc
More characterizations of tangential quadrilaterals 75

In a quadrilateral ABCD, let the incenters in triangles ABP , BCP , CDP and
DAP be I1 , I2 , I3 and I4 respectively. Using (5), we get
r
P A · P B(AP + BP − AB)
P I1 = ,
AP + BP + AB
r
P C · P D(CP + DP − CD)
P I3 = .
CP + DP + CD
Thus in all convex quadrilaterals
AP · BP · CP · DP (AP + BP − AB)(CP + DP − CD)
(P I1 · P I3 )2 =
(AP + BP + AB)(CP + DP + CD)
and in the same way we have
AP · BP · CP · DP (BP + CP − BC)(DP + AP − DA)
(P I2 · P I4 )2 = .
(BP + CP + BC)(DP + AP + DA)
In [16], Woo proved that P I1 · P I3 = P I2 · P I4 if and only if ABCD has an
incircle. Hence it is a tangential quadrilateral if and only if
AP · BP · CP · DP (AP + BP − AB)(CP + DP − CD)
(AP + BP + AB)(CP + DP + CD)
AP · BP · CP · DP (BP + CP − BC)(DP + AP − DA)
=
(BP + CP + BC)(DP + AP + DA)
from which the theorem follows. 

5. Iosifescu’s characterization
In [13] Nicuşor Minculete cites a trigonometric characterization of tangential
quadrilaterals due to Marius Iosifescu from the old Romanian journal [11]. We had
never seen this nice characterization before and suspect no proof has been given in
English, so here we give one. Since we have had no access to the Romanian journal
we don’t know if this is the same proof as the original one.
Theorem 7 (Iosifescu). A convex quadrilateral ABCD is tangential if and only if
x z y w
tan · tan = tan · tan
2 2 2 2
where x = ∠ABD, y = ∠ADB, z = ∠BDC and w = ∠DBC.
Proof. Using the trigonometric formula
u 1 − cos u
tan2 = ,
2 1 + cos u
we get that the equality in the theorem is equivalent to
1 − cos x 1 − cos z 1 − cos y 1 − cos w
· = · .
1 + cos x 1 + cos z 1 + cos y 1 + cos w
This in turn is equivalent to
(1 − cos x)(1 − cos z)(1 + cos y)(1 + cos w)
= (1 − cos y)(1 − cos w)(1 + cos x)(1 + cos z). (6)
76 M. Josefsson

D b
c
z b
C
y

d
q b

w
x
b b

A a B

Figure 9. Angles in Iosifescu’s characterization

Let a = AB, b = BC, c = CD, d = DA and q = BD. From the law of

cosines we have (see Figure 9)
a2 + q 2 − d2
cos x = ,
2aq
so that
d2 − (a − q)2 (d + a − q)(d − a + q)
1 − cos x = =
2aq 2aq
and
(a + q)2 − d2 (a + q + d)(a + q − d)
1 + cos x = = .
2aq 2aq
In the same way
(a + d − q)(a − d + q) (d + q + a)(d + q − a)
1 − cos y = , 1 + cos y = ,
2dq 2dq
(b + c − q)(b − c + q) (c + q + b)(c + q − b)
1 − cos z = , 1 + cos z = ,
2cq 2cq
(c + b − q)(c − b + q) (b + q + c)(b + q − c)
1 − cos w = , 1 + cos w = .
2bq 2bq
Thus (6) is equivalent to
(d + a − q)(d − a + q)2 (b + c − q)(b − c + q)2 (d + q + a) (b + q + c)
· · ·
2aq 2cq 2dq 2bq
2 2
(a + d − q)(a − d + q) (c + b − q)(c − b + q) (a + q + d) (c + q + b)
= · · · .
2dq 2bq 2aq 2cq
This is equivalent to
P (d − a + q)2 (b − c + q)2 − (a − d + q)2 (c − b + q)2 = 0


(7)
where
(d + a − q)(b + c − q)(d + q + a)(b + q + c)
P =
16abcdq 4
More characterizations of tangential quadrilaterals 77

is a positive expression according to the triangle inequality applied in triangles

ABD and BCD. Factoring (7), we get


P (d − a + q)(b − c + q) + (a − d + q)(c − b + q)


· (d − a + q)(b − c + q) − (a − d + q)(c − b + q) = 0.
Expanding the inner parentheses and cancelling some terms, this is equivalent to
4qP (b + d − a − c) (d − a)(b − c) + q 2 = 0.


(8)
The expression in the second parenthesis can never be equal to zero. Using the
triangle inequality, we have q > a − d and q > b − c. Thus q 2 ≷ (a − d)(b − c).
Hence, looking back at the derivation leading to (8), we have proved that
x z y w
tan · tan = tan · tan ⇔ b+d=a+c
2 2 2 2
and Iosifescu’s characterization is proved according to the Pitot theorem. 

6. Characterizations with other excircles

We have already seen two characterizations concerning the four excircles op-
posite the intersection of the diagonals. In this section we will study some other
excircles. We begin by deriving a characterization similar to the one in Theorem 6,
not for its own purpose, but because we will need it to prove the next theorem.
Theorem 8. A convex quadrilateral ABCD with diagonals intersecting at P is
tangential if and only if
(AB + AP − BP )(CD + CP − DP ) (BC − BP + CP )(DA − DP + AP )
= .
(AB − AP + BP )(CD − CP + DP ) (BC + BP − CP )(DA + DP − AP )
Proof. It is well known that in a triangle ABC with sides a, b and c,
s s
A (s − b)(s − c) (a − b + c)(a + b − c)
tan = =
2 s(s − a) (a + b + c)(−a + b + c)
where s is the semiperimeter [9, p.158]. Now, if P is the intersection of the diago-
nals in a quadrilateral ABCD and x, y, z, w are the angles defined in Theorem 7,
we have
s
x (AB + AP − BP )(BP + AP − AB)
tan = ,
2 (AB + AP + BP )(BP − AP + AB)
s
z (CD + CP − DP )(DP + CP − CD)
tan = ,
2 (CD + CP + DP )(DP − CP + CD)
s
y (DA + AP − DP )(DP + AP − DA)
tan = ,
2 (DA + AP + DP )(DP − AP + DA)
s
w (BC + CP − BP )(BP + CP − BC)
tan = .
2 (BC + CP + BP )(BP − CP + BC)
78 M. Josefsson

From Theorem 7 we have the equality8

x z y w
tan2 · tan2 = tan2 · tan2
2 2 2 2
and putting in the expressions above we get
(AB + AP − BP )(BP + AP − AB)(CD + CP − DP )(DP + CP − CD)
(AB + AP + BP )(BP − AP + AB)(CD + CP + DP )(DP − CP + CD)
(DA + AP − DP )(DP + AP − DA)(BC + CP − BP )(BP + CP − BC)
= .
(DA + AP + DP )(DP − AP + DA)(BC + CP + BP )(BP − CP + BC)
Now using Theorem 6, the conclusion follows.9 
Lemma 9. If J1 is the excenter opposite A in a triangle ABC with sides a, b and
c, then
(BJ1 )2 s−c
=
ac s−a
where s is the semiperimeter.
Proof. If Ra is the radius in the excircle opposite A, we have (see Figure 10)
π−B Ra
sin = ,
2 BJ1
B T
BJ1 cos = ,
2 s−a
s(s − b) s(s − a)(s − b)(s − c)
(BJ1 )2 · = ,
ac (s − a)2
and the equation follows. Here T is the area of triangle ABC and we used Heron’s
formula. 

C
b

J1
b

b
a
Ra

b b

A c B

Figure 10. Distance from an excenter to an adjacant vertex

8This is a characterization of tangential quadrilaterals, but that’s not important for the proof of
this theorem.
9Here it is important that Theorem 6 is a characterization of tangential quadrilaterals.
More characterizations of tangential quadrilaterals 79

Theorem 10. A convex quadrilateral ABCD with diagonals intersecting at P is

tangential if and only if the four excenters to triangles ABP , BCP , CDP and
DAP opposite the vertices B and D are concyclic.

JCP |B C
b b

D
b

b
JCP |D
P
b

JAP |B b

b b

A B

JAP |D

Figure 11. Excircles to subtriangles opposite the vertices B and D

Proof. We use the notation JAP |B for the excenter in the excircle tangent to side
AP opposite B in triangle ABP . Using the Lemma in triangles ABP , BCP ,
CDP and DAP yields (see Figure 11)
(P JAP |B )2 AB + AP − BP
= ,
AP · BP AB − AP + BP
(P JCP |D )2 CD + CP − DP
= ,
CP · DP CD − CP + DP
(P JCP |B )2 BC + CP − BP
= ,
CP · BP BC − CP + BP
(P JAP |D )2 DA + AP − DP
= .
AP · DP DA − AP + DP
From Theorem 8 we get that ABCD is a tangential quadrilateral if and only if
(P JAP |B )2 (P JCP |D )2 (P JCP |B )2 (P JAP |D )2
· = · ,
AP · BP CP · DP CP · BP AP · DP
80 M. Josefsson

which is equivalent to

P JAP |B · P JCP |D = P JCP |B · P JAP |D . (9)

Now JAP |B JCP |D and JCP |B JAP |D are straight lines through P since they are
angle bisectors to the angles between the diagonals in ABCD. According to the
intersecting chords theorem and its converse, (9) is a condition for the excenters to
be concyclic. 

There is of course a similar characterization where the excircles are opposite the
vertices A and C.
We conclude with a theorem that resembles Theorem 4, but with the excircles
in Theorem 10.

Theorem 11. A convex quadrilateral ABCD with diagonals intersecting at P is

tangential if and only if
1 1 1 1
+ = + ,
Ra Rc Rb Rd
where Ra , Rb , Rc and Rd are the radii in the excircles to triangles ABP , BCP ,
CDP and DAP respectively opposite the vertices B and D.

Proof. We use notations on the altitudes as in Figure 12, which are the same as in
the proof of Theorem 4. From (3) we have
1 1 1 1
= − + + ,
Ra hB hA h1
1 1 1 1
= − + + ,
Rb hB hC h2
1 1 1 1
= − + + ,
Rc hD hC h3
1 1 1 1
= − + + .
Rd hD hA h4
These yield
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
+ − − = + − − .
Ra Rc Rb Rd h1 h3 h2 h4
Hence
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
+ = + ⇔ + = + .
Ra Rc Rb Rd h1 h3 h2 h4
Since the equality to the right is a characterization of tangential quadrilaterals ac-
cording to (2), so is the equality to the left. 

Even here there is a similar characterization where the excircles are opposite the
vertices A and C.
More characterizations of tangential quadrilaterals 81

b
Rb C
b

hC Rc
D
b
h3 h2 b

P
h4 b

hD
b
hB
hA
h1
Ra

b b

A B

Rd b

Figure 12. The exradii and altitudes

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82 M. Josefsson

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Martin Josefsson: Västergatan 25d, 285 37 Markaryd, Sweden

E-mail address: [email protected]