Euler's theorem in geometry

In geometry, Euler's theorem states that the distance d between the circumcenter and incenter of a triangle is given by^[1][2] $${\displaystyle d^{2}=R(R-2r)}$$ or equivalently $${\displaystyle {\frac {1}{R-d}}+{\frac {1}{R+d}}={\frac {1}{r}},}$$ where ${\displaystyle R}$ and ${\displaystyle r}$ denote the circumradius and inradius respectively (the radii of the circumscribed circle and inscribed circle respectively). The theorem is named for Leonhard Euler, who published it in 1765.^[3] However, the same result was published earlier by William Chapple in 1746.^[4]

Euler's theorem:
${\displaystyle d=|IO|={\sqrt {R(R-2r)}}}$

From the theorem follows the Euler inequality:^[5] $${\displaystyle R\geq 2r,}$$ which holds with equality only in the equilateral case.^[6]

Stronger version of the inequality

A stronger version^[6] is $${\displaystyle {\frac {R}{r}}\geq {\frac {abc+a^{3}+b^{3}+c^{3}}{2abc}}\geq {\frac {a}{b}}+{\frac {b}{c}}+{\frac {c}{a}}-1\geq {\frac {2}{3}}\left({\frac {a}{b}}+{\frac {b}{c}}+{\frac {c}{a}}\right)\geq 2,}$$ where ${\displaystyle a}$, ${\displaystyle b}$, and ${\displaystyle c}$ are the side lengths of the triangle.

Euler's theorem for the excribed circle

If ${\displaystyle r_{a}}$ and ${\displaystyle d_{a}}$ denote respectively the radius of the escribed circle opposite to the vertex ${\displaystyle A}$ and the distance between its center and the center of the circumscribed circle, then ${\displaystyle d_{a}^{2}=R(R+2r_{a})}$.

Euler's inequality in absolute geometry

Euler's inequality, in the form stating that, for all triangles inscribed in a given circle, the maximum of the radius of the inscribed circle is reached for the equilateral triangle and only for it, is valid in absolute geometry.^[7]

See also

• Fuss' theorem for the relation among the same three variables in bicentric quadrilaterals
• Poncelet's closure theorem, showing that there is an infinity of triangles with the same two circles (and therefore the same R, r, and d)
• Egan conjecture, generalization to higher dimensions
• List of triangle inequalities