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Arithmetic Progression Triangle (Posted on 2007-01-28) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Given lengths R and r with R > 2r. Construct a triangle with side lengths in arithmetic progression and R and r its circumradius and inradius respectively.

  Submitted by Bractals    
Rating: 2.5000 (2 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
CONSTRUCTION

Construct a circle with center O and radius R. Construct a diameter EF of circle O. Construct the chord AC of circle O that is perpendicular to EF at point G (with |GE| = r). Construct a circle with center F that passes through point A. Construct a circle with center A and radius 2|AC|. Pick either of the points in the intersection of circles A and F and label it point D. Line AD intersects circle O at point B. The desired triangle is ABC.

PROOF

If a, b, and c are the side lengths of any triangle ABC, then the circumradius and inradius are given by
   R = abc/sqrt[(a+b+c)(b+c-a)(c+a-b)(a+b-c)]           (1)

   r = abc/2R(a+b+c)                                    (2)
If the side lengths of triangle ABC are in arithmetic progression and b is the middle length, then
  2b = a + c                                            (3)
Eliminating a and c from (1), (2), and (3) gives
   b = 2 sqrt[r(2R - r)]                                (4)
From the construction,
   b = 2 sqrt[R2 - (R - r)2]
which agrees with (4).

Now all we have to do is show that 2b = a + c in the construction.
   <BCD = <ABC - <BDC = <AFC - <BDC = 2 <ADC - <BDC

        = 2 <BDC - <BDC = <BDC

        ==>     |BD| = |BC|

   2b = 2|AC| = |AD| = |AB| + |BD| = |AB| + |BC| = c + a.
				

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
Puzzle Thoughts K Sengupta2023-03-17 13:13:54
re(2): solutionArt M2007-01-31 20:09:58
re: solutionBractals2007-01-31 11:53:22
SolutionsolutionArt M2007-01-30 23:35:09
re: solutionBractals2007-01-30 15:13:14
SolutionsolutionDaniel2007-01-30 14:06:08
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