Problem on Circle and Triangle | AMC 10A, 2016

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Try this beautiful problem from Geometry: Problem on Circle and Triangle

Problem on Circle and Triangle – AMC-10A, 2016- Question 21

Circles with centers $P, Q$ and $R,$ having radii 1,2 and 3 , respectively, lie on the same side of line $l$ and are tangent to $l$ at $P^{\prime}, Q^{\prime}$ and $R^{\prime}$ respectively, with $Q^{\prime}$ between $P^{\prime}$ and $R^{\prime}$. The circle with center $Q$ is externally tangent to each of the other two circles. What is the area of triangle $P Q R ?$

$0$
$\sqrt{6} / 3$
$1$
$\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{2}$
$\sqrt{6} / 2$

Key Concepts

Geometry

Circle

Triangle

Check the Answer

But try the problem first…

Answer: $\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{2}$

Source

Try with Hints

First hint

We have to find out area of the Triangle PQR. But PQR is not a Standard Triangle that we can find out eassily. Join $PP^{\prime}$, $QQ^{\prime}$, $RR^{\prime}$. Now we can find out PQR such that $\left[P^{\prime} P Q R R^{\prime}\right]$ in two different ways: $\left[P^{\prime} P Q Q^{\prime}\right]+\left[Q^{\prime} Q R R^{\prime}\right]$ and $[P Q R]+\left[P^{\prime} P R R^{\prime}\right]$, so $\left[P^{\prime} P Q Q^{\prime}\right]+\left[Q^{\prime} Q R R^{\prime}\right]=[P Q R]+\left[P^{\prime} P R R^{\prime}\right]$

Can you now finish the problem ……….

Second Hint

$P^{\prime} Q^{\prime}=\sqrt{P Q^{2}-\left(Q Q^{\prime}-P P^{\prime}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{9-1}=\sqrt{8}=2 \sqrt{2}$

$Q^{\prime} R^{\prime}=\sqrt{Q R^{2}-\left(R R^{\prime}-Q Q^{\prime}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{5^{2}-1^{2}}=\sqrt{24}=2 \sqrt{6}$

$\left[P^{\prime} P Q Q^{\prime}\right]=\frac{P^{\prime} P+Q^{\prime} Q}{2} * 2 \sqrt{2}=\frac{1+2}{2} * 2 \sqrt{2}=3 \sqrt{2}$

$\left[Q^{\prime} Q R R^{\prime}\right]=5 \sqrt{6}$

$\left[P^{\prime} P R R^{\prime}\right]$ = $P^{\prime} R^{\prime}=P^{\prime} Q^{\prime}+Q^{\prime} R^{\prime}=2 \sqrt{2}+2 \sqrt{6}$

$\left[P^{\prime} P R R^{\prime}\right]=4 \sqrt{2}+4 \sqrt{6}$

$\left[P^{\prime} P Q Q^{\prime}\right]+\left[Q^{\prime} Q R R^{\prime}\right]=[P Q R]+\left[P^{\prime} P R R^{\prime}\right]$

$3 \sqrt{2}+5 \sqrt{6}=4 \sqrt{2}+4 \sqrt{6}+[P Q R]$

$[P Q R]=\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{2}$

Problem on Circle and Triangle | AMC 10A, 2016 | Problem 21