Let three circles , which are non-overlapping and mutually external, be given in the plane. For each point in the plane, outside the three circles, construct six points as follows: For each , are distinct points on the circle such that the lines and are both tangents to . Call the point exceptional if, from the construction, three lines are concurrent. Show that every exceptional point of the plane, if exists, lies on the same circle.
Solution
Let be the center and the radius of circle for each . Let be an exceptional point, and let the three corresponding lines concur at . Construct the circle with diameter . Call the circle , its center and its radius . We now claim that all exceptional points lie on .
Let intersect in . As , we see that lies on . As is a tangent to , triangle is right-angled and similar to triangle . It follows that
On the other hand, is also the power of with respect to , so that
and hence
Thus, is the power of with respect to . By the same token, is also the power of with respect to and . Hence must be the radical center of the three given circles. Since , as the square root of the power of with respect to the three given circles, does not depend on , it follows that all exceptional points lie on .