Triangle ABC has AB=27, AC=26, and BC=25. Let I be the intersection of the internal angle bisectors of △ABC. What is BI?
Pick one
Solution
Inscribe circle C of radius r inside triangle ABC so that it meets AB at Q, BC at R, and AC at S. Note that angle bisectors of triangle ABC are concurrent at the center O(also I) of circle C. Let x=QB, y=RC and z=AS. Note that BR=x, SC=y and AQ=z. Hence x+z=27, x+y=25, and z+y=26. Subtracting the last 2 equations we have x−z=−1 and adding this to the first equation we have x=13. By Heron's formula for the area of a triangle we have that the area of triangle ABC is 39(14)(13)(12). On the other hand the area is given by (1/2)25r+(1/2)26r+(1/2)27r. Then 39r=39(14)(13)(12) so that r2=56. Since the radius of circle O is perpendicular to BC at R, we have by the pythagorean theorem BO2=BI2=r2+x2=56+169=225 so that BI=(A) 15.
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