Three Points on Sphere in Same Hemisphere

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Theorem

Let $S$ be a sphere.

Let $A$, $B$ and $C$ be points on $S$ which do not all lie on the same great circle.


Then it is possible to divide $S$ into two hemispheres such that $A$, $B$ and $C$ all lie on the same hemisphere.


Proof

Because $A$, $B$ and $C$ do not lie on the same great circle, no two of these points are the endpoints of the same diameter of $S$.

Otherwise it would be possible to construct a great circle passing through all $3$ points $A$, $B$ and $C$.


Let a great circle $E$ be constructed through $A$ and $B$.

Then as $C$ is not on $E$, it is on either one side or the other.

Hence there is a finite spherical angle $\phi$ between $E$ and $C$.

Let a diameter $PQ$ of $S$ be constructed whose endpoints are on $E$ such that:

neither $P$ nor $Q$ coincides with $A$ or $B$
both $A$ and $B$ are on the same semicircle of $E$ into which $PQ$ divides $E$.


Let two great circles $F$ and $G$ be constructed through $PQ$ which are at a spherical angle $\dfrac \phi 2$ from $E$, one in one direction and one in the other.

Then $F$ and $G$ both divide $S$ into two hemispheres:

one such division has a hemisphere which contains $A$ and $B$ but does not contain $E$
the other such division has a hemisphere which contains $A$, $B$ and $E$.

Hence the result.

$\blacksquare$


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