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Some(?) of the Parts

A circle touches the lines OA, OB and AB where OA and OB are perpendicular. Show that the diameter of the circle is equal to the perimeter of the triangle

Ladder and Cube

A 1 metre cube has one face on the ground and one face against a wall. A 4 metre ladder leans against the wall and just touches the cube. How high is the top of the ladder above the ground?

At a Glance

The area of a regular pentagon looks about twice as a big as the pentangle star drawn within it. Is it?

Medallions

Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level

3 medallions in a box.

I keep three circular medallions in a rectangular box in which they just fit with each one touching the other two. The smallest one has radius $4$ cm and touches one side of the box, the middle sized one has radius $9$ cm and touches two sides of the box and the largest one touches three sides of the box. What is the radius of the largest one?


This problem by R B J T Allenby appeared in the Sunday Times on 12.11.00.