Functions of triples of positive real numbers and their use in study of bicentric polygons (Q375942)

An \(n\)-sided polygon is called bicentric, if it has a circumscribed circle \(C_1\) and an inscribed circle \(C_2 \). Such polygons can be characterized by the radius \(R\) of \(C_1\), the radius \(r\) of \(C_2\) and the distance \(d\) between the centers of \(C_1\) and \(C_2\). For \(n \leq 8\), several algebraic relations between \(R\), \(r\), and \(d\) have been investigated by N. Fuss in 1798. In the paper under review, the author introduces some functions defined on the set of ordered triples \((R, r, d)\) with \(R, r, d > 0\) and \(R > r + d\). Using these functions, he presents a new method for establishing Fuss relations for bicentric \(n\)-gons. Some examples for odd integer \(n>8\) are considered in detail. The case of even integer \(n \geq 4 \) is also discussed.