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Steiner's Theorem


The most common statement known as Steiner's theorem (Casey 1893, p. 329) states that the Pascal lines of the hexagons 123456, 143652, and 163254 formed by interchanging the vertices at positions 2, 4, and 6 are concurrent (where the numbers denote the order in which the vertices of the hexagon are taken). The 20 points of concurrence so generated are known as Steiner points.

Another theorem due to Steiner lets lines x and y join a variable point on a conic section to two fixed points on the same conic section. Then x and y are projectively related.

A third "Steiner's theorem" states that if two opposite edges of a tetrahedron move on two fixed skew lines in any way whatsoever but remain fixed in length, then the volume of the tetrahedron remains constant (Altshiller-Court 1979, p. 87).


See also

Conic Section, Projection, Tetrahedron

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References

Altshiller-Court, N. Modern Pure Solid Geometry. New York: Chelsea, 1979.Casey, J. A Treatise on the Analytical Geometry of the Point, Line, Circle, and Conic Sections, Containing an Account of Its Most Recent Extensions, with Numerous Examples, 2nd ed., rev. enl. Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, & Co., p. 329, 1893.Graustein, W. C. Introduction to Higher Geometry. New York: Macmillan, pp. 252-253, 1930.

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Steiner's Theorem

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Steiner's Theorem." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/SteinersTheorem.html

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