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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
Triangle Incircle Iteration
Keep constructing triangles in the incircle of the previous triangle. What happens?
Medallions
Three circular medallions fit in a rectangular box. Can you find the radius of the largest one?
Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level
Why do this problem ?
This problem brings together ideas of areas of circles and squares, the use of Pythagoras' Theorem and the property of tangents to a circle from an exernal point.
Possible approach
You might start with the middle diagram which is the easiest. It brings in the ratio of the sides of an isosceles right angles triangle which is again used in the other two parts.
Key questions
If you know the side length of an isosceles right angled triangle how do you find the hypotenuse?
Which lengths are equal in the diagram?
Which angles are equal?
Can you use the symmetry of the diagram?
NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.