Semi-Similar Complete Quadrangles
Forum Geometricorum Volume 14 (2014) 87–106. FORUM GEOM ISSN 1534-1178 Semi-Similar Complete Quadrangles Benedetto Scimemi Abstract. Let A = A1A2A3A4 and B =B1B2B3B4 be complete quadrangles and assume that each side AiAj is parallel to BhBk (i, j, h, k is a permutation of 1, 2, 3, 4 ). Then A and B, in general, are not homothetic; they are linked by another strong geometric relation, which we study in this paper. Our main result states that, modulo similarities, the mapping Ai → Bi is induced by an involutory affinity (an oblique reflection). A and B may have quite different aspects, but they share a great number of geometric features and turn out to be similar when A belongs to the most popular families of quadrangles: cyclic and trapezoids. 1. Introduction Two triangles whose sides are parallel in pairs are homothetic. A similar state- ment, trivially, does not apply to quadrilaterals. How about two complete quadran- gles with six pairs of parallel sides? An answer cannot be given unless the question is better posed: let A = A1A2A3A4, B =B1B2B3B4 be complete quadrangles and assume that each side AiAj is parallel to BiBj; then A and B are indeed ho- mothetic. In fact, the two triangle homotheties, say A1A2A3 → B1B2B3, and A4A2A3 → B4B2B3, must be the same mappings, as they have the same effect on two points. 1 There is, however, another interesting way to relate the six directions. Assume AiAj is parallel to BhBk (i, j, h, k will always denote a permutation of 1, 2, 3, 4). Then A and B in general are not homothetic.
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