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Geometry Difficulty 5.9 AIME, harder Prove it Philippines

Problem:
Find the equation of a circle, in the form (xh)2+(yk)2=r2(x-h)^2 + (y-k)^2 = r^2, inscribed in a triangle whose vertex are located at the points (2,1)(-2,1), (2,5)(2,5), (5,2)(5,2).

Solution

Solution:
Let the vertices of the triangle be A(2,1)A(-2,1), B(2,5)B(2,5), C(5,2)C(5,2).

Let the equation of the inscribed circle be (xh)2+(yk)2=r2(x-h)^2 + (y-k)^2 = r^2.

The center (h,k)(h,k) of the incircle is the intersection point of the angle bisectors, i.e., the incenter.

Let aa, bb, cc be the lengths of the sides opposite AA, BB, CC respectively.

First, compute the side lengths:

a=BC=(25)2+(52)2=9+9=18=32a = BC = \sqrt{(2-5)^2 + (5-2)^2} = \sqrt{9 + 9} = \sqrt{18} = 3\sqrt{2}

b=AC=(25)2+(12)2=49+1=50=52b = AC = \sqrt{(-2-5)^2 + (1-2)^2} = \sqrt{49 + 1} = \sqrt{50} = 5\sqrt{2}

c=AB=(22)2+(15)2=16+16=32=42c = AB = \sqrt{(-2-2)^2 + (1-5)^2} = \sqrt{16 + 16} = \sqrt{32} = 4\sqrt{2}

The incenter (h,k)(h,k) is given by:

h=axA+bxB+cxCa+b+c h = \frac{a x_A + b x_B + c x_C}{a + b + c}
k=ayA+byB+cyCa+b+c k = \frac{a y_A + b y_B + c y_C}{a + b + c}

Plug in the values:

a=32a = 3\sqrt{2}, b=52b = 5\sqrt{2}, c=42c = 4\sqrt{2}

a+b+c=(3+5+4)2=122a + b + c = (3 + 5 + 4)\sqrt{2} = 12\sqrt{2}

xA=2x_A = -2, xB=2x_B = 2, xC=5x_C = 5

h=32×(2)+52×2+42×5122h = \frac{3\sqrt{2} \times (-2) + 5\sqrt{2} \times 2 + 4\sqrt{2} \times 5}{12\sqrt{2}}

=62+102+202122= \frac{-6\sqrt{2} + 10\sqrt{2} + 20\sqrt{2}}{12\sqrt{2}}

=242122=2= \frac{24\sqrt{2}}{12\sqrt{2}} = 2

yA=1y_A = 1, yB=5y_B = 5, yC=2y_C = 2

k=32×1+52×5+42×2122k = \frac{3\sqrt{2} \times 1 + 5\sqrt{2} \times 5 + 4\sqrt{2} \times 2}{12\sqrt{2}}

=32+252+82122= \frac{3\sqrt{2} + 25\sqrt{2} + 8\sqrt{2}}{12\sqrt{2}}

=362122=3= \frac{36\sqrt{2}}{12\sqrt{2}} = 3

So, the incenter is (2,3)(2,3).

Now, the radius rr is given by:

r=Areas r = \frac{\text{Area}}{s}
where s=a+b+c2=1222=62s = \frac{a + b + c}{2} = \frac{12\sqrt{2}}{2} = 6\sqrt{2}

Compute the area of the triangle using the determinant formula:

Area=12x1(y2y3)+x2(y3y1)+x3(y1y2) \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} |x_1(y_2 - y_3) + x_2(y_3 - y_1) + x_3(y_1 - y_2)|

Plug in the values:

x1=2x_1 = -2, y1=1y_1 = 1

x2=2x_2 = 2, y2=5y_2 = 5

x3=5x_3 = 5, y3=2y_3 = 2

=122(52)+2(21)+5(15)= \frac{1}{2} | -2(5-2) + 2(2-1) + 5(1-5) |

=122×3+2×1+5×(4)= \frac{1}{2} | -2 \times 3 + 2 \times 1 + 5 \times (-4) |

=126+220= \frac{1}{2} | -6 + 2 - 20 |

=1224=12= \frac{1}{2} | -24 | = 12

So, Area=12\text{Area} = 12

Therefore,

r=1262=22=2r = \frac{12}{6\sqrt{2}} = \frac{2}{\sqrt{2}} = \sqrt{2}

Thus, the equation of the inscribed circle is:

(x2)2+(y3)2=2(x-2)^2 + (y-3)^2 = 2

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Source: MathNet, licensed CC-BY-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.