Start with any triangle T1 and its inscribed circle. Draw the triangle T2 which has its vertices at the points of contact between the triangle T1 and its incircle. Now keep repeating this process starting with T2 to form a sequence of nested triangles and circles. What happens to the triangles? You may like to investigate this interactively on the computer or by drawing with ruler and compasses. If the angles in the first triangle are a, b and c prove that the angles in the second triangle are given (in degrees) by f(x) = (90 - x/2) where x takes the values a, b and c. Choose some triangles, investigate this iteration numerically and try to give reasons for what happens. Investigate what happens if you reverse this process (triangle to circumcircle to triangle...)
M is any point on the line AB. Squares of side length AM and MB are constructed and their circumcircles intersect at P (and M). Prove that the lines AD and BE produced pass through P.
A kite shaped lawn consists of an equilateral triangle ABC of side 130 feet and an isosceles triangle BCD in which BD and CD are of length 169 feet. A gardener has a motor mower which cuts strips of grass exactly one foot wide and wishes to cut the entire lawn in parallel strips. What is the minimum number of strips the gardener must mow?
This solution is from Tony Cardell, age 15, State College Area High School, PA, USA.
We investigate quadrilaterals inscribed in the unit circle. The sides of the quadrilateral $s_1$, $s_2$, $s_3$, $s_4$, subtend angles $\theta_1, \theta_2, \theta_3, \theta_4$ at the centre of the circle where $\theta_1 \leq \theta_2 \leq \theta_3 \leq \theta_4$. Now $\theta_1 \leq 90^\circ$ so the the largest value of
First investigating an inscribed quadrilateral where all sides are equal, $s = s_1 = s_1 = s_3 = s_4$ , which is a square with diagonal of length 2 units, we find that the side length of this square is given by $2s^2 = 4$, so that
\( s = \sqrt{2}\).
Now imagine an equilateral triangle inscribed in the unit circle. The angle at the centre is \(120^\circ \)
Side 3 can approach length 2 because we can make a quadrilateral with sides three and four very close to 2 and sides one and two very close to zero. As sides one and two approach zero, sides three and four clearly approach 2, the diameter of the unit circle.
Finally, at its maximum, side 4 can be 2 when side 4 is the diameter of the unit circle. The other sides will fit into one of the halves of the circle because you can make them as small as you want. Any line longer than 2 units will extend outside the circle so side four cannot be longer than 2 units.