PRINCIPIA · THEOREM

Three non-collinear points determine a unique circle

Depends on: Three perpendicular bisectors meet (circumcenter), Perpendicular bisector ⇔ equidistant from endpoints.

Statement

Let AA, BB, CC be three non-collinear points in the plane. Then exactly one circle passes through all three; its centre is the circumcenter OO of ABC\triangle ABC (the intersection of the three perpendicular bisectors), and its radius is

R  =  OA  =  OB  =  OC.R \;=\; OA \;=\; OB \;=\; OC.

This is the circumscribed circle of ABC\triangle ABC.

Three non-collinear points A, B, C → three perpendicular bisectors meet at the circumcenter O → unique circumscribed circle, radius R = OA = OB = OC

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