Chapter 8: Problem 15
A triangle with sides of lengths 3 in., 4 in., and 5 in. has an area of 6 in \(^{2}\). What is the length of the radius of the inscribed circle?
Short Answer
Expert verified
The radius of the inscribed circle is 1 in.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Problem
We are given a triangle with sides 3 in., 4 in., and 5 in., which indicates that it is a right-angled triangle. We need to find the radius of the circle inscribed within this triangle.
02
Recall the Formula for the Area of a Triangle
The area of a triangle can be determined using the formula containing the inradius (inscribed circle's radius): Area = \( r \cdot s \), where \( r \) is the radius and \( s \) is the semi-perimeter of the triangle.
03
Calculate the Semi-perimeter
Find the semi-perimeter \( s \) of the triangle. \[ s = \frac{3 + 4 + 5}{2} = 6 \text{ in.} \]
04
Substitute Values into the Formula
Substitute the known values into the formula for the area. \[ 6 = r \times 6 \]
05
Solve for the Radius
Solve the equation for \( r \). \[ r = \frac{6}{6} = 1 \text{ in.} \] In this equation, we simply divide the area by the semi-perimeter.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Right-Angled Triangle
A right-angled triangle is a special type of triangle that contains one angle measuring exactly 90 degrees. This is also called a right angle. In the context of the problem, the triangle with sides 3 in., 4 in., and 5 in. is a classic example known as a Pythagorean triple. This specific six unit triangle is very famous in geometry.
- One side, which measures 5 in., is the hypotenuse. The hypotenuse is always the longest side in a right-angled triangle and is opposite the right angle.
- The other two sides, 3 in. and 4 in., are called the legs. They form the right angle and can often be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem if the hypotenuse is known.
Inradius
The inradius of a triangle is the radius of the circle that can fit perfectly inside the triangle, touching all three sides. This circle is called the incircle. Inradius can be a bit tricky to understand at first, but it's an essential concept in geometry, especially when calculating areas.
- The formula for finding the area of a triangle in terms of its inradius is: \( \text{Area} = r \cdot s \), where \( r \) is the inradius and \( s \) is the semi-perimeter of the triangle.
- For right-angled triangles, this relationship often makes it easier to determine the inradius because the area and semi-perimeter are more straightforward to calculate.
Semi-perimeter
The semi-perimeter of a triangle is half of its perimeter. It's used in various geometric calculations, especially those involving area or radius sizes within triangles.
- The semi-perimeter \( s \) is calculated by adding all the side lengths of the triangle together and then dividing by 2. For example, with sides of 3 in., 4 in., and 5 in., the semi-perimeter is \( s = \frac{3 + 4 + 5}{2} = 6 \text{ in.} \).
- This value is crucial when using the formula that relates the area of a triangle and its inradius, as it simplifies the equation significantly when you know both the area and the semi-perimeter.