The Steiner Deltoid as the Tangent Envelope of Wallace--Simson Lines in Isabelle/HOL

Arthur Freitas Ramos 📧, David Barros Hulak 📧 and Ruy Jose Guerra Barretto de Queiroz 📧

August 12, 2026

Abstract

We formalize the classical Steiner deltoid construction in Isabelle/HOL using only the published Archive of Formal Proofs entry for the Wallace--Simson line. In unit-circumcircle coordinates, the deltoid has an explicit complex parametrisation. We prove its derivative formula, characterize the stationary parameters by \(m^3=abc\), and certify them as ordinary cusps using the second and third derivatives. We then prove an equality of sets between the appropriate Wallace--Simson line and the tangent line, for every parameter, including the cusp cases. The development uses complex coordinates and handles a vertex parameter by cycling to the alternate pair of feet.

License

BSD License

Note

AI assistance was used for proof engineering. The final definitions, statements, and proofs are checked by Isabelle.

Topics

Related publications

  • Botana, F., & Valcarce, J. L. (2004). Automatic determination of envelopes and other derived curves within a graphic environment. Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, 67(1-2), 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matcom.2004.05.004

Session Steiner_Deltoid