The Erdős-Mordell inequality is equivalent to non-positive curvature (Q2482330)

The author determines that the plane axioms in groups I, II, and III of Hilbert's \textit{Grundlagen der Geometrie} provide an axiomatic framework for the following theorem. For any triangle \(ABC\) and any point \(P\) in its interior or on its boundary, the sum \(S_1(ABC)\) of the distances from \(P\) to the sides and the sum \(S_2(ABC)\) of the distances from \(P\) to the vertices satisfy the inequality \(S_2(ABC)\geq2S_1(ABC)\). Equality holds only in case \(ABC\) is equilateral and \(P\) is its centroid. The models satisfying the plane axioms as above are called \(H\)-planes. \textit{W. Pejas} [Math. Ann. 143, 212--235 (1961; Zbl 0109.39001)] gave an algebraic characterization of all \(H\)-planes \(\mathfrak{A}(K,k)\). Here \(K\) is an ordered Pythagorean field and \(k\in K\). The main result in the paper under review states that the full text of the theorem is true only in planes with \(k=0\). The inequality holds in all planes with \(k\leq0\), and does not hold in planes with \(k>0\).