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Circle in hypotenuse (Posted on 2003-11-14) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Prove that if you draw a right triangle and then draw a circle with its center on the hypotenuse's midpoint such that it intersects at least 1 vertex, it will in fact intersect all three.

  Submitted by Antonio    
Rating: 2.5000 (4 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
Form a right triangle with sides L1, L2 and an hypotenue 2R. According to the Pytagorean theorem, L1^2 + L2^2 = 4R^2 using the cosines law we can obtain L1 and L2 in terms of R and an angle theta.

L1^2=R^2+R^2-2*R*R*Cos[theta]
L2^2=R^2+R^2-2*R*R*Cos[180-theta]

So, the sum of L1^2 + L2^2 should be 4*R^2, therefore,

4*R^2=R^2+R^2-2*R*R*Cos[theta]+R^2+R^2-2*R*R*Cos[180-theta].

Any terms of R goes and it results in a trigonometric identity: Cos[180-theta]=-Cos[theta]

With this identity, we replace one of these terms in the previous ecuations of L1^2 or L2^2 and do the sum again with the new term:

4*R^2=R^2+R^2+2*R*R*Cos[theta]+R^2+R^2-2*R*R*Cos[theta]

And finally it's proven, 4*R^2=4*R^2, thus the circle does intersect the vertex joining L1 and L2 in any right triangle.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
Solutiona different method?tomarken2006-03-02 12:39:54
Solutionsemi-circle theoremshawn2004-02-24 11:27:41
Solutionsemi-circle theoremshawn2004-02-24 11:26:10
SolutionSolutionjoel2004-01-02 23:02:22
Theorem - Drewbrianjn2003-11-26 23:51:46
?????drew2003-11-22 14:48:10
Solution without Analytic Geometrynp_rt2003-11-19 13:08:47
re: solutionRoger2003-11-16 08:12:52
Some Thoughtsre(2): solutionEric2003-11-16 01:23:03
re: solutionDan2003-11-14 19:27:26
Solutionanother wayCharlie2003-11-14 15:55:04
re: solutionSilverKnight2003-11-14 15:42:08
SolutionsolutionSilverKnight2003-11-14 15:24:11
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