Regular polygons and circles

  • Incircles Explained
    article

    Incircles Explained

    This article is about triangles in which the lengths of the sides and the radii of the inscribed circles are all whole numbers.
  • Arclets Explained
    article

    Arclets Explained

    This article gives an wonderful insight into students working on the Arclets problem that first appeared in the Sept 2002 edition of the NRICH website.
  • Pi, a Very Special Number
    article

    Pi, a Very Special Number

    Read all about the number pi and the mathematicians who have tried to find out its value as accurately as possible.
  • Circles, circles everywhere
    article

    Circles, Circles Everywhere

    This article for pupils gives some examples of how circles have featured in people's lives for centuries.
  • Area I'n It
    problem

    Area I'n It

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Triangle ABC has altitudes h1, h2 and h3. The radius of the inscribed circle is r, while the radii of the escribed circles are r1, r2 and r3 respectively. Prove: 1/r = 1/h1 + 1/h2 + 1/h3 = 1/r1 + 1/r2 + 1/r3 .
  • Sangaku
    problem

    Sangaku

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    The square ABCD is split into three triangles by the lines BP and CP. Find the radii of the three inscribed circles to these triangles as P moves on AD.
  • Fitting In
    problem

    Fitting In

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
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    The largest square which fits into a circle is ABCD and EFGH is a square with G and H on the line CD and E and F on the circumference of the circle. Show that AB = 5EF. Similarly the largest equilateral triangle which fits into a circle is LMN and PQR is an equilateral triangle with P and Q on the line LM and R on the circumference of the circle. Show that LM = 3PQ
  • Retracircles
    problem

    Retracircles

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    Four circles all touch each other and a circumscribing circle. Find the ratios of the radii and prove that joining 3 centres gives a 3-4-5 triangle.
  • Escriptions
    problem

    Escriptions

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
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    For any right-angled triangle find the radii of the three escribed circles touching the sides of the triangle externally.
  • Coins on a Plate
    problem

    Coins on a Plate

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
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    Points A, B and C are the centres of three circles, each one of which touches the other two. Prove that the perimeter of the triangle ABC is equal to the diameter of the largest circle.