Napoleon-like theorem concerning squares erected on sides of midpoint polygon of octogon












4















Given an arbitrary octagon, construct it's midpoint polygon(the midpoint formed by the midpoints of the sides). Erect squares on the sides of the midpoint polygon, all inwards or all outwards. Consider the four segments, each connecting the centroids of two squares corresponding to opposite sides of the midpoint polygon.



The midpoint of these segments form a square.




enter image description here



I distinctly remember seeing this theorem in some geometry article, but I have been unable to find that article. I believe it was attributed to Van Aubel, however I am not too sure. I want to find the source of this theorem because I have found a rather powerful generalisation and I want to revisit that article.



Does anyone find this theorem familiar?










share|cite|improve this question
























  • Branko Grünbaum (RIP 2018) presented results of this type in a graduate course at the University of Washington many years ago. I'm not sure if they were published outside of lecture notes. There's a wonderful general result that goes something like this: Given an arbitrary $n$-gon, consider the various regular $(n/k)$-gons, defined as having vertices $(cos 2pi i k/n,sin2pi i k/n)$ for $i=0, 1, ldots, n-1$. (These include "starry" and "multiply-traced" figures, as well as the "dot" ($k=0$).) [continued]
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • [continuation] Erecting an $(n/k)$-gon on the sides of the $n$-gon and joining centroids gives a new $n$-gon; erecting some other $(n/k)$-gon on the new sides gives another $n$-gon; etc. Iterating for all-but-one of $(n/k)$-gons, the final polygon is the remaining $(n/k)$-gon. For an $8$-gon, the $(n/k)$-gons are the dot ($k=0$), the regular octagon ($k=1$), the doubly-traced square ($k=2$), "starry octagon" ($k=3$), quad-traced segment ($k=4$, whose derived polygon is a midpoint polygon), and "reverse-direction" versions. Similar to what you have, except for the "opposite sides" thing.
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • @Blue, aren't you describing the Petr-Douglas-Neumann Theorem? ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petr-Douglas-Neumann_theorem )
    – Tanny Sieben
    2 days ago










  • Ah, yes. That seems to be it.
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • Interestingly, the "opposite sides" thing seems attributable to a common alternative interpretation of $(n/k)$-gon. Rather than starting at $(1,0)$ of a regular "unit" $n$-gon and forming a single (possibly multiply-traced) path by jumping every $k$ vertices, possibly excluding some vertices, we connect every vertex of the $n$ gon to the vertex/vertices $k$ jumps ahead/behind. So, an $(8/4)$-gon would consist of four individual segments (perhaps best thought of as double-traced segments) instead one octo-traced segment. But your figure arguably also uses octo-traced segments. Intriguing.
    – Blue
    2 days ago


















4















Given an arbitrary octagon, construct it's midpoint polygon(the midpoint formed by the midpoints of the sides). Erect squares on the sides of the midpoint polygon, all inwards or all outwards. Consider the four segments, each connecting the centroids of two squares corresponding to opposite sides of the midpoint polygon.



The midpoint of these segments form a square.




enter image description here



I distinctly remember seeing this theorem in some geometry article, but I have been unable to find that article. I believe it was attributed to Van Aubel, however I am not too sure. I want to find the source of this theorem because I have found a rather powerful generalisation and I want to revisit that article.



Does anyone find this theorem familiar?










share|cite|improve this question
























  • Branko Grünbaum (RIP 2018) presented results of this type in a graduate course at the University of Washington many years ago. I'm not sure if they were published outside of lecture notes. There's a wonderful general result that goes something like this: Given an arbitrary $n$-gon, consider the various regular $(n/k)$-gons, defined as having vertices $(cos 2pi i k/n,sin2pi i k/n)$ for $i=0, 1, ldots, n-1$. (These include "starry" and "multiply-traced" figures, as well as the "dot" ($k=0$).) [continued]
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • [continuation] Erecting an $(n/k)$-gon on the sides of the $n$-gon and joining centroids gives a new $n$-gon; erecting some other $(n/k)$-gon on the new sides gives another $n$-gon; etc. Iterating for all-but-one of $(n/k)$-gons, the final polygon is the remaining $(n/k)$-gon. For an $8$-gon, the $(n/k)$-gons are the dot ($k=0$), the regular octagon ($k=1$), the doubly-traced square ($k=2$), "starry octagon" ($k=3$), quad-traced segment ($k=4$, whose derived polygon is a midpoint polygon), and "reverse-direction" versions. Similar to what you have, except for the "opposite sides" thing.
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • @Blue, aren't you describing the Petr-Douglas-Neumann Theorem? ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petr-Douglas-Neumann_theorem )
    – Tanny Sieben
    2 days ago










  • Ah, yes. That seems to be it.
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • Interestingly, the "opposite sides" thing seems attributable to a common alternative interpretation of $(n/k)$-gon. Rather than starting at $(1,0)$ of a regular "unit" $n$-gon and forming a single (possibly multiply-traced) path by jumping every $k$ vertices, possibly excluding some vertices, we connect every vertex of the $n$ gon to the vertex/vertices $k$ jumps ahead/behind. So, an $(8/4)$-gon would consist of four individual segments (perhaps best thought of as double-traced segments) instead one octo-traced segment. But your figure arguably also uses octo-traced segments. Intriguing.
    – Blue
    2 days ago
















4












4








4








Given an arbitrary octagon, construct it's midpoint polygon(the midpoint formed by the midpoints of the sides). Erect squares on the sides of the midpoint polygon, all inwards or all outwards. Consider the four segments, each connecting the centroids of two squares corresponding to opposite sides of the midpoint polygon.



The midpoint of these segments form a square.




enter image description here



I distinctly remember seeing this theorem in some geometry article, but I have been unable to find that article. I believe it was attributed to Van Aubel, however I am not too sure. I want to find the source of this theorem because I have found a rather powerful generalisation and I want to revisit that article.



Does anyone find this theorem familiar?










share|cite|improve this question
















Given an arbitrary octagon, construct it's midpoint polygon(the midpoint formed by the midpoints of the sides). Erect squares on the sides of the midpoint polygon, all inwards or all outwards. Consider the four segments, each connecting the centroids of two squares corresponding to opposite sides of the midpoint polygon.



The midpoint of these segments form a square.




enter image description here



I distinctly remember seeing this theorem in some geometry article, but I have been unable to find that article. I believe it was attributed to Van Aubel, however I am not too sure. I want to find the source of this theorem because I have found a rather powerful generalisation and I want to revisit that article.



Does anyone find this theorem familiar?







geometry reference-request complex-numbers euclidean-geometry geometric-transformation






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited 6 hours ago









greedoid

38.2k114797




38.2k114797










asked 2 days ago









Tanny Sieben

32118




32118












  • Branko Grünbaum (RIP 2018) presented results of this type in a graduate course at the University of Washington many years ago. I'm not sure if they were published outside of lecture notes. There's a wonderful general result that goes something like this: Given an arbitrary $n$-gon, consider the various regular $(n/k)$-gons, defined as having vertices $(cos 2pi i k/n,sin2pi i k/n)$ for $i=0, 1, ldots, n-1$. (These include "starry" and "multiply-traced" figures, as well as the "dot" ($k=0$).) [continued]
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • [continuation] Erecting an $(n/k)$-gon on the sides of the $n$-gon and joining centroids gives a new $n$-gon; erecting some other $(n/k)$-gon on the new sides gives another $n$-gon; etc. Iterating for all-but-one of $(n/k)$-gons, the final polygon is the remaining $(n/k)$-gon. For an $8$-gon, the $(n/k)$-gons are the dot ($k=0$), the regular octagon ($k=1$), the doubly-traced square ($k=2$), "starry octagon" ($k=3$), quad-traced segment ($k=4$, whose derived polygon is a midpoint polygon), and "reverse-direction" versions. Similar to what you have, except for the "opposite sides" thing.
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • @Blue, aren't you describing the Petr-Douglas-Neumann Theorem? ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petr-Douglas-Neumann_theorem )
    – Tanny Sieben
    2 days ago










  • Ah, yes. That seems to be it.
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • Interestingly, the "opposite sides" thing seems attributable to a common alternative interpretation of $(n/k)$-gon. Rather than starting at $(1,0)$ of a regular "unit" $n$-gon and forming a single (possibly multiply-traced) path by jumping every $k$ vertices, possibly excluding some vertices, we connect every vertex of the $n$ gon to the vertex/vertices $k$ jumps ahead/behind. So, an $(8/4)$-gon would consist of four individual segments (perhaps best thought of as double-traced segments) instead one octo-traced segment. But your figure arguably also uses octo-traced segments. Intriguing.
    – Blue
    2 days ago




















  • Branko Grünbaum (RIP 2018) presented results of this type in a graduate course at the University of Washington many years ago. I'm not sure if they were published outside of lecture notes. There's a wonderful general result that goes something like this: Given an arbitrary $n$-gon, consider the various regular $(n/k)$-gons, defined as having vertices $(cos 2pi i k/n,sin2pi i k/n)$ for $i=0, 1, ldots, n-1$. (These include "starry" and "multiply-traced" figures, as well as the "dot" ($k=0$).) [continued]
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • [continuation] Erecting an $(n/k)$-gon on the sides of the $n$-gon and joining centroids gives a new $n$-gon; erecting some other $(n/k)$-gon on the new sides gives another $n$-gon; etc. Iterating for all-but-one of $(n/k)$-gons, the final polygon is the remaining $(n/k)$-gon. For an $8$-gon, the $(n/k)$-gons are the dot ($k=0$), the regular octagon ($k=1$), the doubly-traced square ($k=2$), "starry octagon" ($k=3$), quad-traced segment ($k=4$, whose derived polygon is a midpoint polygon), and "reverse-direction" versions. Similar to what you have, except for the "opposite sides" thing.
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • @Blue, aren't you describing the Petr-Douglas-Neumann Theorem? ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petr-Douglas-Neumann_theorem )
    – Tanny Sieben
    2 days ago










  • Ah, yes. That seems to be it.
    – Blue
    2 days ago










  • Interestingly, the "opposite sides" thing seems attributable to a common alternative interpretation of $(n/k)$-gon. Rather than starting at $(1,0)$ of a regular "unit" $n$-gon and forming a single (possibly multiply-traced) path by jumping every $k$ vertices, possibly excluding some vertices, we connect every vertex of the $n$ gon to the vertex/vertices $k$ jumps ahead/behind. So, an $(8/4)$-gon would consist of four individual segments (perhaps best thought of as double-traced segments) instead one octo-traced segment. But your figure arguably also uses octo-traced segments. Intriguing.
    – Blue
    2 days ago


















Branko Grünbaum (RIP 2018) presented results of this type in a graduate course at the University of Washington many years ago. I'm not sure if they were published outside of lecture notes. There's a wonderful general result that goes something like this: Given an arbitrary $n$-gon, consider the various regular $(n/k)$-gons, defined as having vertices $(cos 2pi i k/n,sin2pi i k/n)$ for $i=0, 1, ldots, n-1$. (These include "starry" and "multiply-traced" figures, as well as the "dot" ($k=0$).) [continued]
– Blue
2 days ago




Branko Grünbaum (RIP 2018) presented results of this type in a graduate course at the University of Washington many years ago. I'm not sure if they were published outside of lecture notes. There's a wonderful general result that goes something like this: Given an arbitrary $n$-gon, consider the various regular $(n/k)$-gons, defined as having vertices $(cos 2pi i k/n,sin2pi i k/n)$ for $i=0, 1, ldots, n-1$. (These include "starry" and "multiply-traced" figures, as well as the "dot" ($k=0$).) [continued]
– Blue
2 days ago












[continuation] Erecting an $(n/k)$-gon on the sides of the $n$-gon and joining centroids gives a new $n$-gon; erecting some other $(n/k)$-gon on the new sides gives another $n$-gon; etc. Iterating for all-but-one of $(n/k)$-gons, the final polygon is the remaining $(n/k)$-gon. For an $8$-gon, the $(n/k)$-gons are the dot ($k=0$), the regular octagon ($k=1$), the doubly-traced square ($k=2$), "starry octagon" ($k=3$), quad-traced segment ($k=4$, whose derived polygon is a midpoint polygon), and "reverse-direction" versions. Similar to what you have, except for the "opposite sides" thing.
– Blue
2 days ago




[continuation] Erecting an $(n/k)$-gon on the sides of the $n$-gon and joining centroids gives a new $n$-gon; erecting some other $(n/k)$-gon on the new sides gives another $n$-gon; etc. Iterating for all-but-one of $(n/k)$-gons, the final polygon is the remaining $(n/k)$-gon. For an $8$-gon, the $(n/k)$-gons are the dot ($k=0$), the regular octagon ($k=1$), the doubly-traced square ($k=2$), "starry octagon" ($k=3$), quad-traced segment ($k=4$, whose derived polygon is a midpoint polygon), and "reverse-direction" versions. Similar to what you have, except for the "opposite sides" thing.
– Blue
2 days ago












@Blue, aren't you describing the Petr-Douglas-Neumann Theorem? ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petr-Douglas-Neumann_theorem )
– Tanny Sieben
2 days ago




@Blue, aren't you describing the Petr-Douglas-Neumann Theorem? ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petr-Douglas-Neumann_theorem )
– Tanny Sieben
2 days ago












Ah, yes. That seems to be it.
– Blue
2 days ago




Ah, yes. That seems to be it.
– Blue
2 days ago












Interestingly, the "opposite sides" thing seems attributable to a common alternative interpretation of $(n/k)$-gon. Rather than starting at $(1,0)$ of a regular "unit" $n$-gon and forming a single (possibly multiply-traced) path by jumping every $k$ vertices, possibly excluding some vertices, we connect every vertex of the $n$ gon to the vertex/vertices $k$ jumps ahead/behind. So, an $(8/4)$-gon would consist of four individual segments (perhaps best thought of as double-traced segments) instead one octo-traced segment. But your figure arguably also uses octo-traced segments. Intriguing.
– Blue
2 days ago






Interestingly, the "opposite sides" thing seems attributable to a common alternative interpretation of $(n/k)$-gon. Rather than starting at $(1,0)$ of a regular "unit" $n$-gon and forming a single (possibly multiply-traced) path by jumping every $k$ vertices, possibly excluding some vertices, we connect every vertex of the $n$ gon to the vertex/vertices $k$ jumps ahead/behind. So, an $(8/4)$-gon would consist of four individual segments (perhaps best thought of as double-traced segments) instead one octo-traced segment. But your figure arguably also uses octo-traced segments. Intriguing.
– Blue
2 days ago












1 Answer
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I have a lenghty complex-vector-computational solution. The main idea is in a following lemma.



Lemma: If $ABCD$ is a square with center $S$, then $$ S = {1over 2}(B-A)i+{1over 2}(A+B)$$
where letters represent complex numbers of coresponding points (with the same name).





So we get 8 centers and then calculate all $4$ midpoints of those segments. Say we have octagon $ABCDEFGH$, then those midpoints (if we suppose that $A+B+C+D+E+F+G+H =0$) are:



$$ M_1 = {1over 4}Big[(D+H-B-F)i+(A+E-C-G)Big]=-M_3$$
$$ M_2 = {1over 4}Big[(A+E-C-G)i+(B+F-D-H)Big] =-M_4$$



Now it is easy to see that $M_2 = iM_1$ and we are done.






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    1 Answer
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    I have a lenghty complex-vector-computational solution. The main idea is in a following lemma.



    Lemma: If $ABCD$ is a square with center $S$, then $$ S = {1over 2}(B-A)i+{1over 2}(A+B)$$
    where letters represent complex numbers of coresponding points (with the same name).





    So we get 8 centers and then calculate all $4$ midpoints of those segments. Say we have octagon $ABCDEFGH$, then those midpoints (if we suppose that $A+B+C+D+E+F+G+H =0$) are:



    $$ M_1 = {1over 4}Big[(D+H-B-F)i+(A+E-C-G)Big]=-M_3$$
    $$ M_2 = {1over 4}Big[(A+E-C-G)i+(B+F-D-H)Big] =-M_4$$



    Now it is easy to see that $M_2 = iM_1$ and we are done.






    share|cite|improve this answer


























      1














      I have a lenghty complex-vector-computational solution. The main idea is in a following lemma.



      Lemma: If $ABCD$ is a square with center $S$, then $$ S = {1over 2}(B-A)i+{1over 2}(A+B)$$
      where letters represent complex numbers of coresponding points (with the same name).





      So we get 8 centers and then calculate all $4$ midpoints of those segments. Say we have octagon $ABCDEFGH$, then those midpoints (if we suppose that $A+B+C+D+E+F+G+H =0$) are:



      $$ M_1 = {1over 4}Big[(D+H-B-F)i+(A+E-C-G)Big]=-M_3$$
      $$ M_2 = {1over 4}Big[(A+E-C-G)i+(B+F-D-H)Big] =-M_4$$



      Now it is easy to see that $M_2 = iM_1$ and we are done.






      share|cite|improve this answer
























        1












        1








        1






        I have a lenghty complex-vector-computational solution. The main idea is in a following lemma.



        Lemma: If $ABCD$ is a square with center $S$, then $$ S = {1over 2}(B-A)i+{1over 2}(A+B)$$
        where letters represent complex numbers of coresponding points (with the same name).





        So we get 8 centers and then calculate all $4$ midpoints of those segments. Say we have octagon $ABCDEFGH$, then those midpoints (if we suppose that $A+B+C+D+E+F+G+H =0$) are:



        $$ M_1 = {1over 4}Big[(D+H-B-F)i+(A+E-C-G)Big]=-M_3$$
        $$ M_2 = {1over 4}Big[(A+E-C-G)i+(B+F-D-H)Big] =-M_4$$



        Now it is easy to see that $M_2 = iM_1$ and we are done.






        share|cite|improve this answer












        I have a lenghty complex-vector-computational solution. The main idea is in a following lemma.



        Lemma: If $ABCD$ is a square with center $S$, then $$ S = {1over 2}(B-A)i+{1over 2}(A+B)$$
        where letters represent complex numbers of coresponding points (with the same name).





        So we get 8 centers and then calculate all $4$ midpoints of those segments. Say we have octagon $ABCDEFGH$, then those midpoints (if we suppose that $A+B+C+D+E+F+G+H =0$) are:



        $$ M_1 = {1over 4}Big[(D+H-B-F)i+(A+E-C-G)Big]=-M_3$$
        $$ M_2 = {1over 4}Big[(A+E-C-G)i+(B+F-D-H)Big] =-M_4$$



        Now it is easy to see that $M_2 = iM_1$ and we are done.







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered yesterday









        greedoid

        38.2k114797




        38.2k114797






























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