TITLE: Golden ratio as a property of conic section (is it known?)
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: I am looking for a proof of a discovery as follows:

Let $ABC$ be arbitrary triangle and $(\Omega)$ be an arbitrary circumconic of $ABC$ let  $A'B'C'$ is its tangential triangle of $ABC$ respect to $(\Omega)$. Let $BB'$ meet $AC$ at $D$ and $CC'$ meet $AB$ at $E$, let $DE$ meet the circumconic at $F$. A line through $F$ and parallel to $B'C'$ meets $AB$, $AC$ at $H$, $G$ (see Figure) then:
$$\frac{HG}{GF}=\frac{\sqrt{5}+1}{2}.$$

REPLY [4 votes]: Consider generalizing the last line to

Let $I$ be a point on $B'C'$, and let $FI$ meet $AB$, $AC$ at $H$,
$G$.
Then the cross ratio of $H,F,G,I$ is the negative golden ratio: $$\frac{HG\cdot FI}{FG\cdot HI}=-\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2} = -\phi$$

The original version is the limit of the general version as $I$ goes to infinity.
But the general version is projectively invariant, so we can prove it using coordinates where $A$ is at vertical infinity, the conic is $y=x^2$, and the tangent at $A$ is the line at infinity.
Then the first coordinates are simple:
\begin{align}
A &= \infty(0,1)\\
B &= (b,\ b^2)\\
C &= (c,\ c^2)\\
A' &= ((b+c)/2,\ bc)\\
B' &= \infty(1,2c)\\
C' &= \infty(1,2b)\\
D &= (c,\ (b-c)^2+c^2)\\
E &= (b,\ (b-c)^2+b^2)\\
F &= ((1-\phi)b+\phi c,\ ((1-\phi)b+\phi c)^2)\\
\end{align}
and we can stop computing coordinates there. The graphic below shows the case $b=-1$, $c=2$.

(There is also another solution for $F$, not mentioned in the original question, which leads to switching $\phi$ and $1-\phi$ in the above and the below.)
We want to evaluate the cross ratio $(HG\cdot FI)/(FG \cdot HI)$. Since $I$ is a point at infinity, the $FI$ and $HI$ terms will cancel. Then we can compute the directed quotient $HG/FG$ from the $x-$coordinates, which are $c$ and $b$ for $G$ and $H$. This gives us the desired result:
$$\frac{HG\cdot FI}{FG \cdot HI}=\frac{HG}{FG}=\frac{b-c}{(b-c)(1-\phi)}=-\phi$$