In a right-angled triangle, the sides are consecutive elements of an arithmetic sequence. Determine the ratio of the sides. Prove that the radius of the inscribed circle is the common difference of the arithmetic sequence.
Solution
Solution. Let the difference of the arithmetic sequence formed by the sides of the triangle be , and the sides of the triangle be: , , and , where .
!
According to the Pythagorean theorem:
This is only possible if or if .
cannot be 0, as it is the length of one side of the triangle; thus, . Therefore, the lengths of the sides are: , , and .
Thus, the ratio of the sides is: .
Let the radius of the inscribed circle be , and . We can write the area of the triangle in two ways:
Since , it follows that .
This proves that the radius of the inscribed circle is equal to the difference of the arithmetic sequence, and the ratio of the sides is .
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