Find the radius of the circle!

Geometry Level 4

Three points A,B,C when connected together forms an Equilateral Triangle with Perimeter 36 Three *Identical * Circles were drawn inside the Triangle.

X,Y,Z are the center of the circles. When X,Y,Z are connected another Equilateral Triangle is formed. Can you find the radius of the circle?


The answer is 2.20.

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3 solutions

Michael Huang
Aug 18, 2017

The shift method follows from the previous problem of mine. The proof is left for the readers to work out.

Let r r denote the radius of the circle. Since all 3 3 inscribed circles have the same radius, we can shift equilateral triangle X Y Z XYZ as shown below.

Where the side length of \(\Delta ABC\) is \(12\). Where the side length of Δ A B C \Delta ABC is 12 12 .

Since in the original diagram the small triangle Δ X Y Z \Delta XYZ is positioned at the center of the large one, the altitude of B Y Z C BYZC is 3 r 3r (from point O O to the bottom). Then, since the length of Δ X Y Z \Delta XYZ is 2 r 2r , then X O = 3 r |\overline{XO}| = \sqrt{3}r , so the altitude of Δ A B C \Delta ABC is 3 r + 3 r \sqrt{3}r + 3r . Therefore, the radius of the circle is radius of circle = altitude of Δ A B C r ( 3 + 3 ) = 6 3 r = 6 3 3 + 3 \begin{array}{rl} \text{radius of circle} &= \text{altitude of }\Delta ABC\\ r\left(3 + \sqrt{3}\right) &= 6\sqrt{3}\\ r &= \dfrac{6\sqrt{3}}{3 + \sqrt{3}} \end{array}

No hint needed, thank you.

Marta Reece - 3 years, 9 months ago

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It's clear that the problems are closely related! :)

Michael Huang - 3 years, 9 months ago

R. Nadhiban
Aug 18, 2017

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