A triangle has corners at #(3 , 2 )#, #(5 ,7 )#, and #(9 ,5 )#. What is the radius of the triangle's inscribed circle?

1 Answer
Jun 8, 2016

#r = 1.44879#

Explanation:

A triangle given by their vertices #p_1,p_2,p_3# has area given by

#A=1/2abs((y_2+y_1)(x_2-x_1)+(y_3+y_2)(x_3-x_2)+(y_1+y_3)(x_1-x_3))#

or by the famous Heron's formula (circa 60 AD). Given their sides lenght

#a = norm(p_2-p_1)#
#b = norm(p_3-p_2)#
#c = norm(p_1-p_3)#

and calling #s = (a+b+c)/2# semiperimeter,
then

#A = sqrt(s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c))#

Calling now #o# the triangle's orthocenter, which is the intersection of bissectrices from each vertice's angle, the distance from #o# to each side is given by #r# which is the internal circle radius. So we can state.

#1/2(a xx r + b xx r +c xx r) = r(a+b+c)/2 = r xx s = A#

solving for #r#

#r = A/s= sqrt(s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c))/s=sqrt(((s-a)(s-b)(s-c))/s)#

Taking #a = 5.38516,b=4.47214,c=6.7082#

we obtain #r = 1.44879#