Pompe's Hexagon Theorem

The following interesting and very useful hexagon theorem is attributed to my colleague and friend of several years, Waldemar Pompe, from the University of Warsaw, Poland.

Pompe's Hexagon Theorem
Given a hexagon ABCDEF with AB = BC, CD = DE and EF = FA, and angles α + β + γ = 360^o, then the respective angles of ΔBDF are α/2, β/2 and γ/2.

Reference: Pompe, W. (2016). Wokół obrotów: przewodnik po geometrii elementarnej. Wydawnictwo Szkolne Omega, Kraków, Poland.

 

Pompe's Hexagon Theorem

Challenge
1) While checking the angle measurements, drag points B and D until the hexagon becomes convex. What do you notice?
1) Can you explain why (prove that) this hexagon theorem is true?
2) If you get stuck, press the 'Proof Hint' button in the dynamic sketch at the top, which illustrates the rotation of ΔFAB counter-clockwise around centre F through angle γ and ΔDCB clockwise around centre D through angle β. Then determine the angles of ΔBDF in terms of α, β and γ.

Note: Pompe's hexagon theorem can also be viewed as a configuration showing that the sum of the rotation of A through γ around F to map onto E, and the subsequent rotation of E through β around D to map onto C, is equivalent to a rotation of A through α around B to map onto C - see for example, the Sum of Two Rotations Theorem.

Some applications
Pompe's hexagon theorem certainly deserves to be much better known as it applies directly in so many geometric results. For example, it:
1) provides an immediate proof for the Lux Problem as well as the equivalent Klingens' Theorem.
2) immediately proves Napoleon’s theorem (the centres of equilateral triangles on the sides of any triangle form another equilateral triangle), as well as some of its generalizations.
3) directly shows that in Van Aubel’s quadrilateral theorem, the angle formed by the centres of two squares on adjacent sides, say AB and BC, and the midpoint of the diagonal AC, is a right angle
4) solves this interesting Dirk Laurie Tribute Problem involving a cyclic hexagon with a set of alternate sides equal to the radius of the circle.
5) together with another result, can be used to prove Jha and Savarn’s generalisation of Napoleon’s theorem to a hexagon.

Egamberganov's Theorem (2017)
This theorem appears in A generalization of the Napoleon's Theorem in Mathematical Reflections, no. 3. Egamberganov's Theorem is a generalization of Pompe's Hexagon Theorem. It can be formulated in general as follows in relation to the sketch above:
Given a hexagon ABCDEF with AB* CD * EF = BC * DE * FA, and angles α + β + γ = 360^o, then ∠DBF = ∠EAF + ∠DCE, ∠FDB = ∠EDF + ∠BDC, and ∠BFD = ∠DFE + ∠AFB.
In the sketch above click on the 'Show Angles for Egamberganov's Theorem' to display the respective angles above.
(A seperate dynamic geometry sketch of this theorem will be done in due course & posted in a future update).

Proof Hints or Comparisons
a) If still stuck for a proof of Pompe's Hexagon theorem, or to compare your own solution(s), a proof is given in the Appendix of my joint paper Ghosts of a Problem Past with Hans Humenberger in the free online journal At Right Angles in the March 2021 issue.
b) Alternatively, look at the Sum of Two Rotations Theorem.

Related Links
Napoleon's Theorem (Rethinking Proof activity)
Triangle Generalizations of Napoleon's Theorem
Related Triangle Variations & Generalizations of Napoleon's Theorem
Lux Problem (Different but equivalent to Klingen)
Klingens' Theorem of Two Intersecting Circles
Sum of Two Rotations Theorem
Parallelogram Squares (Rethinking Proof activity)
Van Aubel's Theorem and some Generalizations
An associated result of the Van Aubel configuration and some generalizations
The Fermat-Torricelli Point of a Triangle (Rethinking Proof activity)
Fermat-Torricelli Point Generalizations
Napoleon's Theorem: Generalizations & Converses
Napoleon's Regular Hexagon
Some Hexagon Generalizations of Napoleon's Theorem
Jha and Savarn’s Hexagon Generalisation of Napoleon’s theorem
Dao Thanh Oai’s Hexagon Generalization of Napoleon’s theorem
A Fundamental Theorem of Similarity
Dirk Laurie Tribute Problem (Special case of Asymmetric Propeller)

External Links
Napoleon's theorem (Wikipedia)
Napoleon's Theorem, Two Simple Proofs (Cut The Knot)
Aimssec Lesson Activities (African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Schools Enrichment Centre)
UCT Mathematics Competition Training Material
SA Mathematics Olympiad Questions and worked solutions for past South African Mathematics Olympiad papers can be found at this link.
(Note, however, that prospective users will need to register and log in to be able to view past papers and solutions.)

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Free Download of Geometer's Sketchpad & Learning/Instructional Modules on various topics

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