[Math] Is it possible to find the vertices of an equilateral triangle given its center point

euclidean-geometrygeometrytriangles

I was wondering how to find the vertices of an equilateral triangle given its center point?

Such as:

        A
        /\
       /  \
      /    \
     /   M  \
  B /________\ C

Provided that AB, AC, BC = x and M = (50,50) and M is the middle of the triangle, I want to find A, B and C.

Thanks.

Best Answer

Let's assume that $x$, the side of the equilateral triangle, is a known positive quantity and that side $BC$ is horizontal (or that point $A$ is directly above point $M$). Let's also assume you are using Cartesian coordinates (where increasing the first coordinate means moving right and increasing the second coordinate means moving up) and that $M$ is the point $(50,50)$.

Then $x$ is the side of the equilateral triangle $ABC$. By simple geometry we know that the altitude is $\frac{\sqrt 3}2x$. Point $M$ is the centroid of the triangle and is on the altitude which is also the median. This means the distance $AM$ is two-thirds the altitude, namely $\frac{\sqrt 3}3x$.

Therefore point $A$ is $\left( 50,50+\frac{\sqrt 3}3x \right)$.

Point $B$ is $\frac{\sqrt 3}2x$ down from $A$ and $\frac x2$ to the left, so point $B$ is $\left( 50-\frac x2,50-\frac{\sqrt 3}6x \right)$, and point $C$ is $\left( 50+\frac x2,50-\frac{\sqrt 3}6x \right)$.

I tested this answer with Geogebra, and it checks.