A Rarity in Geometry
We study the locus C of all points in the plane whose pedal points on the six sides of a complete quadrangle lie on a conic. In the Euclidean plane, it turns out that C is an algebraic curve of degree 7 and genus 5 and not of degree 12 as it could be expected. Septic curves occur rather seldom in geometry which motivates a detailed study of this particular curve. We look at its singularities, focal points, and those points on C whose pedal conics degenerate. Then, we show that the septic curve occurs as the locus curve for a more general question. Further, we describe those cases where C degenerates or is of degree less than 7 depending on the shape of the initial quadrilateral
Keyword(s):
Keyword(s):
2018 ◽
Keyword(s):
2018 ◽
Keyword(s):