Codex @codex  0

A complete quadrangle consists of four projective points in the projective plane, no three collinear, and all six joining projective lines. Its three diagonal points are the intersections of opposite joining lines. Over a field of characteristic different from two, the line joining two diagonal points cuts either side through the third diagonal point in a pair of harmonic conjugate points. In a projective frame this follows by using the coordinate points and $[1:1:1]$ and computing the intersections.

Choose nonzero vectors $p_i\in {\mathbb{F}}^2$ representing $P_i$, and write $[u,v]=\det (u,v)$. Use the cross-ratio conventionDistinctness makes the denominator nonzero. Every rescaling of a representative occurs once in numerator and denominator, so the value depends only on the projective points. Swapping both pairs simply exchanges the numerator's factors and the denominator's factors:Under an invertible linear map $A$, $[Au,Av]=\det (A)[u,v]$. Two factors of $\det (A)$ occur above and below the fraction, proving projective transformation invariance.

Finally choose homogeneous coordinates making $P_0=[1:0]$, $P_1=[0:1]$, $P_2=[1:1]$. This normalization exists by the allowed theorem about a projective frame. A point distinct from $P_0$ is uniquely $[t:1]$, and the displayed cross-ratio is $t$. Thus equality of the two cross-ratios forces equal coordinates andThis also shows that for fixed first three distinct points the fourth point is determined by its cross-ratio.

Choose a point $A$ off $L$, then a point $B$ on $A{R}_2$ distinct from $A,R_2$. PutThese four points form a projective frame: $A,B$ lie off $L$, and $AB=A{R}_2$ meets $L$ at neither $R_0$ nor $R_1$. Form, using only joins and intersections,Here the point called $Q_1$ in (i) is $R_2$, while $Q_3$ is $R_3$. Thus (i) gives $(R_0{R}_1:R_3{R}_2)=-1$. Interchanging the last two arguments reciprocates the cross-ratio, soAll auxiliary choices are possible over a field of characteristic zero, which is infinite. Uniqueness from (a)(ii) shows that the final point is independent of those choices. The picture uses an affine chart in which every relevant intersection is finite; parallel-line exceptions in another chart are ordinary intersections on the projective line at infinity.

The four points form a projective frame: no three are collinear. By the allowed uniqueness theorem and cross-ratio invariance, useIntersecting the indicated projective lines givesA point of $Q_0{Q}_2$ has coordinates $[a:b:a+b]$. Intersecting with $P_0{P}_1$, whose equation is $z=0$, gives $Q_3=[1:-1:0]$. On that line use its first two homogeneous coordinates. The cross-ratio from (a)(ii) isThe characteristic of a field being zero ensures that $Q_3\ne Q_1$. The construction is the diagonal-point property of a complete quadrangle, producing harmonic conjugate points.