Power of a Point and Radical Axis

Tovi Wen

NYC Math Team

§1 Power of a Point
This handout will cover the topic power of a point, and one of its more powerful uses in radical axes.

Definition (Power of a Point)

Given a circle ω with center O and radius r, and a point P , the power of P with respect to ω,
which we will denote as (P, ω) is OP 2 − r2 . Note that

• If P is outside ω then (P, ω) is positive.

• If P is on ω then (P, ω) = 0.

• If P is inside ω then (P, ω) is negative.

This definition does not feel particularly motivated, and therefore when taught at a more elementary
level, it is often skipped and replaced by the following nice property.

Theorem
Let ω be a circle and let P be a point not on ω. If a line passing through P meets ω at distinct
points A and B then
(
PA · PB if P lies outside ω,
(P, ω) =
−P A · P B if P lies inside ω

Proof. It is not immediately obvious why the quantity P A · P B should be fixed for any line passing
through P . Draw another chord of ω passing through P as shown.
B
A ω

P O

C
M
D
Recall that opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral are supplementary. This gives ∠P AC = ∠P DB so
as ∠AP C ≡ ∠BP D is shared, we have 4P AC ∼ 4P DB. In particular,
PA PD
= =⇒ P A · P B = P C · P D.
PC PB

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Power of a Point and Radical Axis Tovi Wen

We now show this quantity is equal to OP 2 − r2 . Let M be the midpoint of CD so that OM ⊥ P M .

Then,

P C · P D = (P M − CM )(P M + CM )
= P M 2 − CM 2
= (P O2 − OM 2 ) − (OC 2 − OM 2 )
= P O2 − OC 2

as desired.

§2 Power of a Point Exercises

Problem 1 (2020 AMC12B). In unit square ABCD, the inscribed circle ω intersects CD at M, and
AM intersects ω at a point P different from M. What is AP ?
Problem 2. Point P is chosen on the common chord of circles C1 and C2 . Assume that P lies outside
of both circles. Prove that the length of the tangent from P to C1 is equal to the length of the tangent
from P to C2 .
Problem 3. Let ω and γ be two circles intersecting at P and Q. Let their common external tangent
touch ω at A and γ at B. Prove that P Q passes through the midpoint M of AB.
Problem 4 (2019 AIME I). In convex quadrilateral KLM N side M N is perpendicular to diagonal KM ,
side KL is perpendicular to diagonal LN , M N = 65, and KL = 28. The line through L perpendicular
to side KN intersects diagonal KM at O with KO = 8. Find M O.
Problem 5. Let 4ABC be equilateral, have side length 1, and have circumcircle ω. A chord of ω is
trisected by AB and AC. What is the length of this chord?

§3 What’s the Radical Axis?

Definition (Radical Axis)
Given two non-concentric circles ω1 and ω2 , there exists a line ` consisting of all points P for which
(P, ω1 ) = P (ω2 ). The line ` is known as the radical axis of ω1 and ω2 .

This means if ω1 has center O1 and radius r1 , and ω2 has center O2 and radius r2 then

P O12 − r12 = P O22 − r22 .

Why does ` exist? is a natural question to ask. Here’s a slightly non-rigorous proof.

Proof. Let P be a point such that (P, ω1 ) = (P, ω2 ). Let D be the foot of the altitude from P to O1 O2 .

Let DO1 = x1 and DO2 = x2 . Set C = x1 + x2 . By the Pythagroean Theorem, we have

P O12 = P D2 + x21 and P O22 = P D2 + x22 .

Combining and simplifying yields

r1 − r2
P D2 + x21 − r12 = P D2 + x22 − r22 =⇒ x21 − x22 = r12 − r22 =⇒ x1 − x2 = .
C
As this last quantity is fixed, so are x1 and x2 . This means that all P satisfying (P, ω1 ) = (P, ω2 ) lie on
the same line `. The proof that all P ∈ ` work is a simple computation.

Where did we use the fact that ω1 and ω2 were non-concentric in the above proof?

Pictured on the following page is an example of the radical axes of two circles. Note that when ω1 and
ω2 intersect, their radical axis is simply their common chord.

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Power of a Point and Radical Axis Tovi Wen

§4 The Radical Axis Theorem

The following is the whole point of all of this and the reason for dedicating an entire talk to this
topic.

Theorem (Radical Axis Theorem)

The pairwise radical axes of three non-concentric circles are concurrent. Note that this means the
common chords of three pairwise intersecting circles are concurrent.

The proof is amazingly short.

Proof. Let the circles be ω1 , ω2 , ω3 and let the radical axes of (ω1 , ω2 ) and (ω2 , ω3 ) intersect at P . Then
(P, ω1 ) = (P, ω2 ) = (P, ω3 )
so P lies on the radical axis of (ω1 , ω3 ) also.
Remark. Note that this proof is isomorphic to the proof of the existence of the circumcenter.
If you ever want to prove that three strange lines are concurrent, the radical axis theorem will often by
the best way to go.

Example 6 (Existence of the orthocenter)

Prove that the three altitudes in a triangle are concurrent.

Let 4ABC be the triangle and let its altitudes be AD, BE, and CF with D ∈ BC, E ∈ CA, and
F ∈ AB. Note that points E and F lie on the circle (BC) with diameter BC and similar results hold
for (CA) and (AB).

B D C

But now, we recognize that line AD is the radical axis of (AB), (CA), line BE is the radical axis of
(AB), (BC), and line CF is the radical axis of (BC), (CA) so by the Radical Axis theorem, AD, BE, CF
concur as required.

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Power of a Point and Radical Axis Tovi Wen

§5 Degenerate Circles
Technically, a point is a circle of radius 0. One fascinating use of the radical axis theorem is when we
apply it to a set of circles, some of which are just points.

Example 7 (Existence of the circumcenter)

Prove that the perpendicular bisectors of the sides of a triangle are concurrent.

Proof. Let 4ABC be the triangle and view A as a circle ωA with radius 0. Define ωB and ωC similarly.
The perpendicular bisector of BC is just the radical axis of (ωB , ωC ) so the three perpendicular bisectors
concur at the radical center of ωA , ωB , ωC .

Obviously the above example is silly as the use of radical axes is completely contrived but this is far
from always true. Take a look at the following problem given on a real olympiad.

Example 8
Let ABC be a triangle with circumcenter O and P be a point. Let the tangent to the circumcircle
of 4BP C at P intersect BC at A0 . Define points B 0 ∈ CA and C 0 ∈ AB similarly. Prove that
points A0 , B 0 , C 0 are collinear on a line perpendicular to OP .

The condition that A0 B 0 C 0 ⊥ OP leads us to believe that the line in question might be the radical axis
def
of (ABC) = Ω and some other circle. In fact, this is the circle ω with center P and radius 0. To see
this, note that
(A0 , ω) = A0 P 2 = A0 B · A0 C = (A0 , Ω)
so A0 lies on the radical axis ` of ω and Ω. Similarly, we can prove B 0 , C 0 ∈ ` so A0 , B 0 , C 0 are collinear
on the radical axis and we are done.

We’ve seen examples exploiting the power of a point definition of the radical axis. It is also helpful to
explicitly define the radical axis of circle and a point outside it.

Lemma
Let P be a point outside circle ω. The tangents to ω at P meet ω at distinct points A and B. Then
the P -midline of 4P AB is the radical axis of (P ) and ω.

We’ll present one last olympiad problem in full.

Example 9 (Iran TST 2011)

In acute triangle ABC angle B is greater than angle C. Let M is midpoint of BC. Let D and E
are the feet of the altitude from C and B, respectively. Let K and L are midpoint of M E and M D,
respectively. If KL intersect the line through A parallel to BC in T , prove that T A = T M .

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Power of a Point and Radical Axis Tovi Wen

A T

E H
K
L
B M C

This example is instructive as it highlights the following claim.

Claim. M D, M E, and the line through A parallel to BC are all tangent to (AEF ).

Proof. Note that D, E lie on the circle with diameter BC and center M . Hence, M D = M E and

∠DM E = 2∠ABD = 180◦ − 2∠A

which gives ∠M ED = ∠M DE = ∠A so M D, M E are tangent. Moreover, the circle has diameter AH

where H is the orthocenter, so since the line through A parallel to BC is perpendicular to AH, it must
be tangent to (ADE) as desired.

Now for the cool part. Notice that by the Lemma, KL is the radical axis of (ADE) and the circle at
M with radius 0. In particular,

T A2 = (T, (ADE)) = (T, (M )) = T M 2

so T A = T M as desired.

§6 Radical Axis Exercises

Problem 1 (2017√AMC12B). A circle has center (−10, −4) and radius 13. Another circle has center
(3, 9) and radius 65. The line passing through the two points of intersection of the two circles has
equation x + y = c. What is c?

Problem 2. Given two non-intersecting circles, can you construct their radical axis using a compass
and a striaghtedge?

Problem 3. Let 4ABC have orthocenter H. Points D and E lie on sides AB and AC, respectively.
Prove that H lies on the radical axis of the circle with diameter CD and the circle with diameter BE.

Problem 4 (USAJMO 2012). Given a triangle ABC, let P and Q be points on segments AB and AC,
respectively, such that AP = AQ. Let S and R be distinct points on segment BC such that S lies
between B and R, ∠BP S = ∠P RS, and ∠CQR = ∠QSR. Prove that P, Q, R, S are concyclic

§7 Challenging Problems
Here are some advanced problems for you to try. Be forewarned that these get pretty hard, and don’t
worry if you aren’t able to solve any of them just yet.

Problem 1 (ISL 1995). The incircle of triangle 4ABC touches the sides BC, CA, AB at D, E, F
respectively. X is a point inside triangle of 4ABC such that the incircle of triangle 4XBC touches BC
at D, and touches CX and XB at Y and Z respectively. Show that E, F, Z, Y are concyclic.

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Power of a Point and Radical Axis Tovi Wen

Problem 2 (IMO 1995). Let A, B, C, D be four distinct points on a line, in that order. The circles with
diameters AC and BD intersect at X and Y . The line XY meets BC at Z. Let P be a point on the line
XY other than Z. The line CP intersects the circle with diameter AC at C and M , and the line BP
intersects the circle with diameter BD at B and N . Prove that the lines AM, DN, XY are concurrent.

Problem 3 (Orthic Axis). Let 4ABC have circumcenter O, orthocenter H, and alitudes AD, BE, CF .
Let EF meet BC at X, let F D meet CA at Y , and let DE meet AB at Z. Prove that X, Y, Z are
collinear on a line perpendicular to OH.

Problem 4 (IMO 2000). Two circles G1 and G2 intersect at two points M and N . Let AB be the line
tangent to these circles at A and B, respectively, so that M lies closer to AB than N . Let CD be the
line parallel to AB and passing through the point M , with C on G1 and D on G2 . Lines AC and BD
meet at E; lines AN and CD meet at P ; lines BN and CD meet at Q. Show that EP = EQ.

Problem 5 (2020 AIME I). Let ABC be an acute triangle with circumcircle ω and orthocenter H.
Suppose the tangent to the circumcircle of 4HBC at H intersects ω at points X and Y with HA = 3,
√
HX = 2, HY = 6. The area of 4ABC can be written as m n, where m and n are positive integers,
and n is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find m + n.

Problem 6 (2016 AIME I). Circles ω1 and ω2 intersect at points X and Y . Line ` is tangent to ω1 and
ω2 at A and B, respectively, with line AB closer to point X than to Y . Circle ω passes through A and
B intersecting ω1 again at D 6= A and intersecting ω2 again at C 6= B. The three points C, Y , D are
collinear, XC = 67, XY = 47, and XD = 37. Find AB 2 .

Problem 7 (Fake USAJMO 2020). Let 4ABC be a triangle. Points D, E, and F are placed on sides
BC, CA, and AB respectively such that EF k BC. The line DE meets the circumcircle of 4ADC
again at X 6= D. Similarly, the line DF meets the circumcircle of 4ADB again at Y 6= D. If D1 is the
reflection of D across the midpoint of BC, prove that the four points D, D1 , X, and Y lie on a circle.

Problem 8 (Coaxality Lemma). Circles ω1 , ω2 , ω3 all pass through points X and Y . If points P and Q
lie on ω3 , show that
(P, ω1 ) (Q, ω1 )
= .
(P, ω2 ) (Q, ω2 )
Problem 9 (Russian Olympiad 2011). The perimeter of triangle ABC is 4. Point X is marked at ray
AB and point Y is marked at ray AC such that AX = AY = 1. Let BC intersect XY at point M .
Prove that perimeter of either 4ABM or 4ACM is 2.

Problem 10 (PUMaC Finals 2017). Triangle ABC has incenter I. The line through I perpendicular
to AI meets the circumcircle of ABC at distinct points P and Q, where P and B are on the same side
of AI. Let X be the point such that P X k CI and QX k BI. Show that P B, QC, and IX intersect at
a common point.