Difference between revisions of "Incenter"
m (→Proof of Existence) |
|||
(6 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
− | [[Image:Incenter.PNG|left|thumb|300px|Triangle ''ABC'' with incenter ''I'', with angle | + | [[Image:Incenter.PNG|left|thumb|300px|Triangle ''ABC'' with [[incenter]] ''I'', with [[angle bisector]]s (red), [[incircle]] (blue), and [[inradius|inradii]] (green)]] |
The '''incenter''' of a [[triangle]] is the intersection of its (interior) [[angle bisector]]s. The incenter is the center of the [[incircle]]. Every [[nondegenerate]] triangle has a unique incenter. | The '''incenter''' of a [[triangle]] is the intersection of its (interior) [[angle bisector]]s. The incenter is the center of the [[incircle]]. Every [[nondegenerate]] triangle has a unique incenter. | ||
Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
== Proof of Existence == | == Proof of Existence == | ||
− | Consider a triangle <math> | + | Consider a triangle <math>ABC</math>. Let <math>I</math> be the intersection of the respective interior angle bisectors of the [[angle]]s <math>BAC</math> and <math>CBA</math>. We observe that since <math>I</math> lies on an angle bisector of <math>BAC</math>, is equidistant from <math>AB</math> and <math>CA</math>; likewise, it is equidistant from <math>BC</math> and <math>AB</math>; hence it is equidistant from <math>BC</math> and <math>BC</math> and <math>CA</math> and therefore lies on an angle bisector of <math>ACB</math>. Since it lies within the triangle <math>ABC</math>, this is the interior angle bisector of <math>ACB</math>. Since <math>I</math> is equidistant from all three sides of the triangle, it is the incenter. |
− | It should be noted that this proof parallels that for the | + | It should be noted that this proof parallels that for the existence of the [[circumcenter]]. |
− | The proofs of | + | The proofs of existence for the [[excenter]]s is the same, except that certain angle bisectors are exterior. |
== Properties of the Incenter == | == Properties of the Incenter == | ||
Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
<math>\bullet</math> The unnormalised [[areal coordinates]] of the incenter are <math>(a,b,c)</math> | <math>\bullet</math> The unnormalised [[areal coordinates]] of the incenter are <math>(a,b,c)</math> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <math>\bullet</math> Let <math>D</math> be a point on the [[circumcircle]] of <math>\triangle ABC</math> such that <math>AD</math> bisects <math>\angle BAC</math>. Then points <math>B</math>, <math>C</math>, and <math>I</math> lie on a circle centered at <math>D</math>. | ||
+ | <center><asy>defaultpen(fontsize(8)); | ||
+ | pair A=(7,10), B=(0,0), C=(10,0), D, I; | ||
+ | I=incenter(A,B,C); | ||
+ | draw(A--B--C--A);draw(circumcircle(A,B,C));draw(incircle(A,B,C)); | ||
+ | D=intersectionpoint(A+0.1*expi((angle(B-A)+angle(C-A))/2)--A+20*expi((angle(B-A)+angle(C-A))/2), circumcircle(A,B,C)); | ||
+ | draw(A--D);draw(circumcircle(B,C,I)); | ||
+ | dot(A^^B^^C^^D^^I);label("A",A,(0,1));label("B",B,(-1,0));label("C",C,(1,0)); | ||
+ | label("D",D,(0,-1));label("I",I,(-1,1));</asy></center> | ||
+ | [[Category:Geometry]] |
Latest revision as of 19:38, 24 November 2011
This article is a stub. Help us out by expanding it.
The incenter of a triangle is the intersection of its (interior) angle bisectors. The incenter is the center of the incircle. Every nondegenerate triangle has a unique incenter.
Proof of Existence
Consider a triangle . Let
be the intersection of the respective interior angle bisectors of the angles
and
. We observe that since
lies on an angle bisector of
, is equidistant from
and
; likewise, it is equidistant from
and
; hence it is equidistant from
and
and
and therefore lies on an angle bisector of
. Since it lies within the triangle
, this is the interior angle bisector of
. Since
is equidistant from all three sides of the triangle, it is the incenter.
It should be noted that this proof parallels that for the existence of the circumcenter.
The proofs of existence for the excenters is the same, except that certain angle bisectors are exterior.
Properties of the Incenter
The incenter of any triangle lies within the orthocentroidal circle.
The unnormalised areal coordinates of the incenter are
Let
be a point on the circumcircle of
such that
bisects
. Then points
,
, and
lie on a circle centered at
.
![[asy]defaultpen(fontsize(8)); pair A=(7,10), B=(0,0), C=(10,0), D, I; I=incenter(A,B,C); draw(A--B--C--A);draw(circumcircle(A,B,C));draw(incircle(A,B,C)); D=intersectionpoint(A+0.1*expi((angle(B-A)+angle(C-A))/2)--A+20*expi((angle(B-A)+angle(C-A))/2), circumcircle(A,B,C)); draw(A--D);draw(circumcircle(B,C,I)); dot(A^^B^^C^^D^^I);label("A",A,(0,1));label("B",B,(-1,0));label("C",C,(1,0)); label("D",D,(0,-1));label("I",I,(-1,1));[/asy]](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/b/c/e/bce3bd31dd1a0032109a2941894b6c1df90e8c37.png)