A projective characterization of cyclicity (Q2473587)

It is well-known that four points \((x_j,y_j)\), \(j=1,\ldots,4\), of the Euclidean plane lie on a circle or a straight line if and only if the cross ratio of the four complex numbers \(x_j+\text{ i}y_j\), \(j=1,\ldots,4\) is real. The authors derive an alternative criterion for cyclicity of four points: If four points lie on a circle, the cross ratio of the intersection points of the isotropic lines of one kind through the points with a coordinate axis is real. The converse is also true. In the formulation of these statements, the distinction of a coordinate axis is not entirely satisfactory and, in fact, it can be replaced by any non-isotropic straight line. The authors also show that two pencils of isotropic conjugate lines are projective if and only if the corresponding rays intersect on a circle. Finally, they give examples for application of their results. It should be noted that the findings in the reviewed article are actually special cases of well-known results from projective geometry.