604
PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS.
[383
and we hence have the values
X : Y : Z = a? if + y 6 z 3 + ¡Pot? — SA*y 3 z 3 : a?y 6 + y 3 z 6 + z 3 x 6 — ‘3oc?y 3 z 3
: xyz (x 6 + y 6 + z 6 — y 3 z 3 — z 3 a? — x?if)
for the coordinates of the point in question.
[Yol. iv. pp. 38, 39.]
1751. (Proposed by Professor Cayley.)—Let ABGD be any quadrilateral. Construct,
as shown in the figure, the points F, G, H, I: in BG find a point Q such that
BG GQ = l^
BG' GQ~ V2’
ellipse may be drawn passing through the eight points F, G, H, /, a, ¡3, 7, S, and
having at these points respectively the tangents shown in the figure.
and complete the construction as shown in the figure. Show that an
{Professor Cayley remarks that if ABGD is the perspective representation of a square,
then the ellipse is the perspective representation of the inscribed circle; the theorem
gives eight points and the tangent at each of them; and the ellipse may therefore
be drawn by hand with an accuracy quite sufficient for practical purposes. The
demonstration is immediate, by treating the figure as a perspective representation: the
gist of the theorem is the very convenient construction in perspective which it furnishes.}
[Yol. iv. pp. 60—67.]
1775. (Proposed by W. K. Clifford.)—If a straight line meet the faces of the
tetrahedron ABGD in the points a, b, c, d, respectively; the spheres whose diameters
are Aa, Bb, Gc, Dd have a common radical axis.