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Difference between revisions of "2004 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 22"

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Substituting all of this back into our formula gives:
 
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<cmath>OI^2= \frac{65}{2}</cmath>
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<cmath>OI^2= \frac{65}{4}</cmath>
 
So, <math>OI=\frac{\sqrt{65}}{2}\implies \boxed{D}</math>
 
So, <math>OI=\frac{\sqrt{65}}{2}\implies \boxed{D}</math>
  

Revision as of 01:03, 10 April 2018

Problem

A triangle with sides of 5, 12, and 13 has both an inscribed and a circumscribed circle. What is the distance between the centers of those circles?

$\mathrm{(A) \ } \frac{3\sqrt{5}}{2} \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ } \frac{7}{2} \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } \sqrt{15} \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ } \frac{\sqrt{65}}{2} \qquad \mathrm{(E) \ } \frac{9}{2}$

Solution 1

This is obviously a right triangle. Pick a coordinate system so that the right angle is at $(0,0)$ and the other two vertices are at $(12,0)$ and $(0,5)$.

As this is a right triangle, the center of the circumcircle is in the middle of the hypotenuse, at $(6,2.5)$.

The radius $r$ of the inscribed circle can be computed using the well-known identity $\frac{rP}2=S$, where $S$ is the area of the triangle and $P$ its perimeter. In our case, $S=\frac{5\cdot 12}{2}=30$ and $P=5+12+13=30$. Thus, $r=2$. As the inscribed circle touches both legs, its center must be at $(r,r)=(2,2)$.

The distance of these two points is then $\sqrt{ (6-2)^2 + (2.5-2)^2 } = \sqrt{16.25} = \sqrt{\frac{65}4} = \boxed{\frac{\sqrt{65}}2}$.

Solution 2

We directly apply Euler’s Theorem, which states that if the circumcenter is $O$ and the incenter $I$, and the inradius is $r$ and the circumradius is $R$, then \[OI^2=R(R-2r)\]

We notice that this is a right triangle, and hence has area $30$. We then find the inradius with the formula $A=rs$, where $s$ denotes semiperimeter. We easily see that $s=15$, so $r=2$.

We now find the circumradius with the formula $A=\frac{abc}{4R}$. Solving for $R$ gives $R=\frac{13}{2}$.

Substituting all of this back into our formula gives: \[OI^2= \frac{65}{4}\] So, $OI=\frac{\sqrt{65}}{2}\implies \boxed{D}$

See also

2004 AMC 10B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 21 		Followed by
Problem 23
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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