# A triangle ABC is drawn to circumscribe a circle of radius 4 cm such that the segments BD and DC into which BC is divided by the point of contact D are of lengths 8 cm and 6 cm respectively (see Fig. 10.14). Find the sides AB and AC.

A Ankit

12.   A triangle ABC is drawn to circumscribe a circle of radius 4 cm such that the segments BD and DC into which BC is divided by the point of contact D are of lengths 8 cm and 6 cm respectively (see Fig. 10.14). Find the sides AB and AC.

A Ankit

Consider the above figure. Assume centre O touches the sides AB and AC of the triangle at point E and F respectively.

Let the length of AE is x.

Now in $\bigtriangleup ABC$,

$CF = CD = 6$ (tangents on the circle from point C)

$BE = BD = 6$ (tangents on the circle from point B)

$AE = AF = x$(tangents on the circle from point A)

Now AB = AE + EB

$\\AB = AE + EB\\\\ => AB = x + 8\\\\ BC = BD + DC\\\\ => BC = 8+6 = 14\\\\ CA = CF + FA\\\\ => CA = 6 + x\\\\$

Now
$\\s = (AB + BC + CA )/2\\\\ => s = (x + 8 + 14 + 6 +x)/2\\\\ => s = (2x + 28)/2\\\\ => s = x + 14$

Area of triangle $\bigtriangleup ABC$

$\\=\sqrt{s*(s-a)*(s-b)*(s-c)}\\\\=\sqrt{(14+x)*[(14+x)-14]*[(14+x)-(6+x)]*[(14+x)-(8+x)]}\\\\=4\sqrt{3(14x+x^2)}$
Now area of $\bigtriangleup OBC$

$\\= (1/2)*OD*BC\\\\ = (1/2)*4*14\\\\ = 56/2 = 28$
Area of$\bigtriangleup OCA$

$\\= (1/2)*OF*AC \\\\= (1/2)*4*(6+x) \\\\= 2(6+x) \\\\= 12 + 2x$

Area of $\bigtriangleup OAB$

$\\= (1/2)*OE*AB \\\\= (1/2)*4*(8+x) \\\\= 2(8+x) \\\\= 16 + 2x$

Now Area of the $\bigtriangleup ABC$ = Area of $\bigtriangleup OBC$ + Area of $\bigtriangleup OCA$ + Area of $\bigtriangleup OAB$

$\\=> 4\sqrt{3x(14+x)}= 28 + 12 + 2x + 16 + 2x \\\\=> 4\sqrt{3x(14+x)} = 56 + 4x \\\\=> 4\sqrt{3x(14+x)} = 4(14 + x) \\\\=> \sqrt{3x(14+x)}] = 14 + x$

On squaring both the side, we get

$\\3x(14 + x) = (14 + x)^2\\\\ => 3x = 14 + x \:\:\:\:\:\: (14 + x = 0 => x = -14\: is\: not\: possible) \\\\=> 3x - x = 14\\\\ => 2x = 14\\\\ => x = 14/2\\\\ => x = 7$

Hence

AB = x + 8

=> AB = 7+8

=> AB = 15

AC = 6 + x

=> AC = 6 + 7

=> AC = 13

Answer-  AB = 15 and AC = 13

Exams
Articles
Questions