SOLUTION: The lengths of the sides of a triangle are 13, 13, and 10. The circumscribed circle of a triangle is a circle that goes through each of the three vertices of the triangle and has i

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Question 278355: The lengths of the sides of a triangle are 13, 13, and 10. The circumscribed circle of a triangle is a circle that goes through each of the three vertices of the triangle and has its centre inside the triangle.Find the radius of the circumscribed circle.

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The lengths of the sides of a triangle are 13, 13, and 10. The circumscribed circle of a triangle is a circle that goes through each of the three vertices of the triangle and has its centre inside the triangle.Find the radius of the circumscribed circle.
 
We start with this triangle ABC
 


where AC = BC = 13, and AB = 10


The circumcenter (center of the circumscribed circle)
is the point where the perpendicular bisectors of
the sides meet.  Let D be the midpoint of AB, and
E be the midpoint of BC.  Since the triangle is
isosceles CD is the perpendicular bisector of AB.

Then we draw EO perpendicular to BC, and EO is the
perpendicular bisector of BC.  So point O is the
circumcenter.


 
We can now draw the circumscribed circle with
center O and radius OC.



We need to calculate the length of the radius OC.

Since BC = 13, then CE = 13%2F2 

Triangle CEO is similar to triangle ACD, so

we have the proportion:

%28OC%29%2F%28AC%29=%28CE%29%2F%28CD%29

Since BC = 13, then CE = 13%2F2

AC is given = 13

Since AB = 10, AD = 5, 

By the Pythagorean theorem:

AC%5E2=AD%5E2%2BCD%5E2

13%5E2=5%5E2%2BCD%5E2

169=25%2BCD%5E2

144=CD%5E2

12=CD

Now the proportion

%28OC%29%2F%28AC%29=%28CE%29%2F%28CD%29

becomes:

%28OC%29%2F13=%2813%2F2%29%2F12

Simplifying the compound fraction on the right
by multiplying top and bottom by 2

%2813%2F2%29%2F12+=+%282%2A%2813%2F2%29%29%2F%282%2A12%29+=+13%2F24

The proportion is now:

%28OC%29%2F13=13%2F24

Cross-multiplying:

24%2AOC=169

OC=169%2F24

So the radius of the circumscribed circle is 169%2F24

-----------------

However, there is a false statement in your problem. It states

The circumscribed circle of a triangle is a circle that goes 
through each of the three vertices of the triangle and has its 
centre inside the triangle.

It is not true that the circumscribed circle always has its
center inside the triangle.  It is in your particular
problem above. However, here is a case where the center of the
circumscribed circle of a triangle is OUTSIDE the triangle:



Edwin