The largest circle

Geometry Level 3

What is the radius of the largest circle that can be inscribed in a sector of radius 1 with an angle of 60 degrees?

If this radius can be written as a b \frac{a}{b} , where a a and b b are coprime positive integers, write your answer as a + b a+b .


The answer is 4.

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2 solutions

Marta Reece
Feb 27, 2017

r O C = s i n ( 3 0 ) = 1 2 \frac{r}{OC}=sin(30^\circ)=\frac{1}{2} therefore O C = 2 × r OC=2\times r

Since O C + r = 1 OC+r=1 we have 3 × r = 1 3\times r=1 or r = 1 3 r=\frac{1}{3}

Adam Hufstetler
Feb 27, 2017

We desire a circle whose center is on the angle bisector of A B C \angle ABC and lies tangent to the two radii that create the sector and the larger circle itself. As such, we can draw lines through the center of the smaller circle from the points of tangency to the tangent that passes through point D. Extending the two radii to these points, we obtain A B C \triangle ABC . Notice that A B C \triangle ABC is equilateral as A D C \angle ADC and A D B \angle ADB are right and C A D \angle CAD and B A D \angle BAD are 3 0 30^{\circ} in measure. Thus the circle we desire is the incircle of the equilateral A B C \triangle ABC .

To find the side length use the Pythagorean theorem where A D AD measures 1, D C DC measures S 2 \frac{S}{2} , and A C AC measures S S . this yields 1 + S 2 4 = S 2 1+\frac{S^2}{4}=S^2 . Simplifying and gathering like-terms we get 4 3 = S 2 \frac{4}{3}=S^2 or S = 2 3 S=\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}} . As the radius of the incircle of an equilateral triangle is S 2 3 \frac{S}{2\sqrt{3}} , the radius of the circle is 1 3 \frac{1}{3} . It follows then that a + b = 4 a+b=4 .

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