Maximise perimeter of triangle in a circle

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on proving that an equilateral triangle inscribed in a circle maximizes the perimeter. The user struggles with algebraic expressions involving angles and sine functions while attempting to derive the perimeter formula. A suggestion is made to utilize the sine rule, specifically the relationship a / sin A = b / sin B = c / sin C = 2R, where R represents the circle's radius, to simplify the proof. This approach avoids complex square root calculations and focuses on geometric properties.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic trigonometry, specifically the sine rule.
  • Familiarity with properties of inscribed angles in circles.
  • Knowledge of polar coordinates and their application in geometry.
  • Basic algebra skills for manipulating trigonometric expressions.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the sine rule in depth, focusing on its applications in triangle geometry.
  • Explore geometric proofs related to triangles inscribed in circles.
  • Learn about polar coordinates and their use in geometric problems.
  • Investigate optimization techniques in geometry, particularly for maximizing perimeters.
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, geometry enthusiasts, and students studying trigonometry or optimization in geometric contexts will benefit from this discussion.

twinkle21
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Hey guys, I hope someone can give me some pointers with this because it should be really easy but I am just not getting it!

I want to show that for a triangle inscribedin a circle an equilateral traingle gives the maximal perimeter. I've tried a few things and just get bogged down in algebra and I am sure there should be a clean geometric proof!

For example if you take a unit circle on the origin then I can set one of my points at the north pole (0,1), then in polars assign the other 2 points at B and C. But this gives me the problem of maximising 2sin(C/2) + 2sin(B/2) + sqrt(2-2cos(C-B)) which is very messy... can anyone give me some pointers?

Thank you!
 
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Try joining the vertices to the center of the circle, and find the perimeter in terms of the angles at the center. That won't involve any square roots.

Or start from the sine rule: ##a / \sin A = b / \sin B = c / \sin C = 2R## where ##R## is the radius of the circle.
 

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