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PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS.
viz., the line AJ passes through a, the line AK through d, &c.; the proof that AJ
passes through a depends on the identical equation
x, y, z
x, z, y
0, 1,-1
and the like for the other lines AK, AL, &c.
The lines through the tangentials are the 36 lines obtained by joining any two
of the points (A, B, G, D, E, F, G, H, I) and the 36 lines obtained by joining any
two of the points (J, K, L, M, N, 0, P, Q, R) ; and these 72 lines pass through the
tangentials, as shown by the table
ABC,
BDI,
CEG,
JKL,
KMR,
LXP,
ADG,
BEH,
GFI,
JMP,
KNQ,
LOR,
AEI,
BF G,
DEF,
JNR,
JOP,
MNO,
AFH,
GDH,
GHI,
JOQ,
LMQ,
PQR,
viz., in the triad ABC, BG passes through A', GA through B', AB through G'; and
the like for the other triads. The proof that BG passes through A depends on the
identical equation
y z x =0;
z , x , y
x(x? — z 3 ), y (z 3 — ¿e 3 ), z (oc 3 — y 3 )
and the like for the other combinations of points.
If we attend only to the points A, B, G and their tangentials A', B', C'; then
we have on the cubic three points A, B, G, such that the line joining an} r two of
them passes through the tangential of the third point. And the figure may be con
structed by means of the three real points of inflexion a, d, g, as follows, viz., joining
these with any point J on the cubic, the lines so obtained respectively meet the cubic
in three new points which may be taken for the points A, B, G. Or if one of these
points, say A, be given, then joining it with one of the three real inflexions, this
line again meets the cubic in the point J, and from it by means of the other two
real inflexions we obtain the remaining points B and G; it is clear that, A being
given, the construction gives three points, say J, K, L, each of them leading to the
same two points B and G.
We may consider the question from a different point of view. Let A, B, G be
given points, and let there be given also three lines passing through these three
points respectively; through the given points, touching at these points the given lines
respectively, describe a cubic; and let the given lines again meet the cubic in the
points A', B', C' respectively. The equation of the cubic contains three arbitrary
C. V. 76