Where Do I Put This \triangle ?

Geometry Level 2

If an isosceles \triangle A B C ABC in which A B = A C = 6 cm AB=AC=6\text{ cm} is inscribed in a circle of radius 9 cm 9\text{ cm} , find the area of \triangle in cm 2 \text{cm}^2 .

12 8 2 8\sqrt{2} 6 3 6\sqrt{3} 10

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4 solutions

Shaun Leong
Jan 28, 2016

Let x be half of the length of the base. Let y be the length of the height.

By Pythagoras's Theorem, x 2 + y 2 = 36 x^2+y^2=36 x 2 + ( 9 y ) 2 = 81 x^2+(9-y)^2=81 x 2 + y 2 18 y = 0 \Rightarrow x^2+y^2-18y=0 36 = 18 y \Rightarrow 36=18y y = 2 , x = 4 2 \Rightarrow y=2, x=4\sqrt{2}

The area then is just x y = 2 4 2 = 8 2 11.313708 xy=2*4\sqrt{2}=8\sqrt{2} \approx 11.313708

Let A B C = A C B = θ \angle ABC=\angle ACB=\theta and B A C = γ \angle BAC=\gamma . By Law of Sines we know that 2 R = A B sin θ 2R=\dfrac{AB}{\sin \theta} , so sin θ = A B 2 R = 6 2 ( 9 ) = 1 3 \sin \theta=\dfrac{AB}{2R}=\dfrac{6}{2(9)}=\dfrac{1}{3} . Now, we have that 2 θ + γ = π 2\theta+\gamma=\pi , then γ = π 2 θ \gamma=\pi-2\theta and sin γ = 2 sin θ cos θ \sin \gamma=2\sin \theta \cos \theta . Find that cos θ = 1 ( 1 3 ) 2 = 2 2 3 \cos\theta=\sqrt{1-\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\right)^2}=\dfrac{2\sqrt{2}}{3} . So sin γ = 2 ( 1 3 ) ( 2 2 3 ) = 4 2 9 \sin \gamma=2\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\right)\left(\dfrac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}\right)=\dfrac{4\sqrt{2}}{9} .

Finally, [ A B C ] = 1 2 A B A C sin γ = 1 2 6 6 4 2 9 = 8 2 11.314 [ABC]=\dfrac{1}{2}AB \cdot AC \cdot \sin \gamma=\dfrac{1}{2}\cdot 6 \cdot 6 \cdot \dfrac{4\sqrt{2}}{9}=8\sqrt{2} \approx 11.314 .

Can you draw a figure? It's not clear how 2R=AB/sin theta relates to the given figure.

Mohammad Hasan - 5 years, 4 months ago
Roger Erisman
Jan 27, 2016

Assume a circle centered at origin with radius = 9

Equation is x^2 + y^2 = 81 (Eqn 1)

Place vertex A at (0,9)

Since AB and AC = 6 they will not reach the ends of a diameter but touch the circle above the diameter.

Assume another circle centered at (0,9) with radius = 6

Equation is x^2 + (y-9)^2 = 36 (Eqn 2)

The two circle intersect at B and C, the vertices of the triangle.

Subtracting the two equations :

 y^2 - (y-9)^2 = 45  which yields y = 7

Substituting back into first equation results in x = +/- 5.66

Therefore the base of the triangle is 2 * 5.66 = 11.32

The height is 9 - 7 = 2

So the area is 0.5 x b x h = 0.5 x2x11.32 = 11.32 cm

Sathya Nc
Jan 31, 2016

R= a b c/4(area) ..... so 9=36 c/4(area).......area=c so 0.5 * c * h=area.......so h=2......and so c/2=(6^2 - 2^2)^(0.5)=(32)^(0.5).... so c=area=2 (32)^(0.5)=8*(2)^(0.5)

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