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Problem : In the figure below, triangle ABC is tangent to the circle of center O at two points. The lengths of AM and BC are equal to 6 and 18 cm respectively. Find the radius of the circle.
Solution to Problem :
- Let B and N be the two points of tangency of the circle (see figure below). We then have three right triangles. We first use Pythagora's theorem to triangle AON. Let r be the length of the radius of the circle. Hence
AN 2 + r 2 = (r + 6) 2
- Solve the above fo AN
AN = SQUARE ROOT [ 36 + 12 r]
- Also triangles ONC and OBC are right triangles such that ON = OB and therefore congruent. Hence NC = BC = 18 cm. Use Pythagora's theorem to triangle ABC
(6 + 2r) 2 + 18 2 = (18 + AN) 2
- Expand the above equation and group like terms
4 r 2 + 12 r = 36 AN
- Substitute AN by SQUARE ROOT [ 36 + 12 r] and divide all terms by 4
r 2 + 3 r = 9 SQUARE ROOT [ 36 + 12 r]
- Square both sides
( r 2 + 3 r ) 2 = 9 2 [ 36 + 12 r]
- Expand and group
r 4 + 6 r 3 + 9 r 2 - 972 r - 2916 = 0
- The above equation has two real solutions. Only one of them is positive and is equal to 9 cm.
More references to geometry problems.
Geometry Tutorials, Problems and Interactive Applets.
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