The figure shows a square, , with four segments, , drawn in such a way that three congruent circles are tangent to the segments and to the sides of the square. If the radius of the circles is 1, what is the length of a side of the square, ? Submit
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Let the center of the bottom circle be O ; O P , O Q , and J R be perpendicular D A , A B , and L B respectively; and ∠ L B A = θ . Then we have:
A Q + Q B P O + O Q ⋅ cot 2 θ 1 + t 1 = A B = s = s Let t = tan 2 θ
Note that J R = 2 and
J B ⋅ cos θ ( B C − J C ) cos θ ( s − s tan θ ) cos θ s ( cos θ − sin θ ) ( 1 + t 1 ) ( 1 + t 2 1 − t 2 − 2 t ) − t 3 − 3 t 2 − t + 1 3 t 3 + 3 t 2 + 3 t − 1 ⟹ t s ⟹ ⌊ 1 0 4 s ⌋ = J R = 2 = 2 = 2 = 2 = 2 t + 2 t 3 = 0 = 3 2 7 8 + 9 8 + 3 2 7 8 − 9 8 − 3 1 ≈ 0 . 2 5 3 0 7 6 5 8 7 = 1 + t 1 ≈ 4 . 9 5 1 3 7 3 0 3 6 = 4 9 5 1 3
Reference: Cardano's method