118] ON THE HARMONIC RELATION OF TWO LINES OR TWO POINTS. 97
are such that the lines joining them with the opposite angles of the triangle meet in
a point. Each of these points is, with respect to the involution formed by the two
angles of the triangle, and the two points harmonically related thereto, a double point;
and we have thus the following theorem of the harmonic relation of two lines to
a triangle and line, or else to a triangle and point.
Theorem. “ If on the sides of a triangle there be taken three points, which either
lie in a line, or else are such that the lines joining them with the opposite angles
of a triangle meet in a 'point; and if on each side of the triangle there be taken
two points, forming with the two angles on the same side an involution having the
first-mentioned point on the same side for a double point; then if three of the six
points lie in a line, the other three of the six points will also lie in a line”—the
two lines are said to be harmonically related to the triangle and line, or (as the case
may be) to the triangle and point.
The theorems with respect to the harmonic relation of two points are of course
the reciprocals of those with respect to the harmonic relation of two lines, and do
not need to be separately stated.
The preceding theorems are useful in (among other geometrical investigations) the
porism of the in-and-circumscribed polygon.
2 Stone Buildings, July 9, 1853.
C. II.
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