Incircle and excircles of a triangle

Incircle redirects here. For incircles of non-triangle polygons, see Tangential quadrilateral or Tangential polygon.

File:Incircle and Excircles.svg

A triangle (black) with incircle (blue), incenter (I), excircles (orange), excenters (J_A,J_B,J_C), internal angle bisectors (red) and external angle bisectors (green)

In geometry, the incircle or inscribed circle of a triangle is the largest circle contained in the triangle; it touches (is tangent to) the three sides. The center of the incircle is called the triangle's incenter.

An excircle or escribed circle of the triangle is a circle lying outside the triangle, tangent to one of its sides and tangent to the extensions of the other two. Every triangle has three distinct excircles, each tangent to one of the triangle's sides.

The center of the incircle, called the incenter, can be found as the intersection of the three internal angle bisectors. The center of an excircle is the intersection of the internal bisector of one angle (at vertex A, for example) and the external bisectors of the other two. The center of this excircle is called the excenter relative to the vertex A, or the excenter of A. Because the internal bisector of an angle is perpendicular to its external bisector, it follows that the center of the incircle together with the three excircle centers form an orthocentric system.

Polygons with more than three sides do not all have an incircle tangent to all sides; those that do are called tangential polygons. See also Tangent lines to circles.

Relation to area of the triangle

The radii of the incircles and excircles are closely related to the area of the triangle.

Incircle

File:Incircle.svg

Suppose $\triangle ABC$ has an incircle with radius r and center I. Let a be the length of BC, b the length of AC, and c the length of AB. Now, the incircle is tangent to AB at some point C′, and so $\angle AC'I$ is right. Thus the radius C'I is an altitude of $\triangle IAB$. Therefore $\triangle IAB$ has base length c and height r, and so has area $\tfrac{1}{2}cr$. Similarly, $\triangle IAC$ has area $\tfrac{1}{2}br$ and $\triangle IBC$ has area $\tfrac{1}{2}ar$. Since these three triangles decompose $\triangle ABC$, we see that

$\Delta = \frac{1}{2} (a+b+c) r = s r,$      and      $r=\frac{\Delta}{s},$

where $\Delta$ is the area of $\triangle ABC$ and $s= \frac{1}{2}(a+b+c)$ is its semiperimeter.

For an alternative formula, consider $\triangle IC'A$. This is a right-angled triangle with one side equal to r and the other side equal to $r \cot \frac{\angle A}{2}$. The same is true for $\triangle IB'A$. The large triangle is composed of 6 such triangles and the total area is:

$\Delta = r^2\cdot(\cot \frac{\angle A}{2} + \cot \frac{\angle B}{2} + \cot \frac{\angle C}{2})$

Excircles

The radii in the excircles are called the exradii. Let the excircle at side AB touch at side AC extended at G, and let this excircle's radius be $r_c$ and its center be $I_c$. Then $I_c G$ is an altitude of $\triangle ACI_c$, so $\triangle ACI_c$ has area $\tfrac{1}{2}br_c$. By a similar argument, $\triangle BCI_c$ has area $\tfrac{1}{2}ar_c$ and $\triangle ABI_c$ has area $\tfrac{1}{2}cr_c$. Thus

$\Delta = \frac{1}{2}(a+b-c)r_c = (s-c)r_c$.

So, by symmetry,

$\Delta = sr = (s-a)r_a = (s-b)r_b = (s-c)r_c$.

By the Law of Cosines, we have

$\cos A = \frac{b^2 + c^2 - a^2}{2bc}$

Combining this with the identity $\sin^2 A + \cos^2 A = 1$, we have

$\sin A = \frac{\sqrt{-a^4 - b^4 - c^4 + 2a^2b^2 + 2b^2 c^2 + 2 a^2 c^2}}{2bc}$

But $\Delta = \tfrac{1}{2}bc \sin A$, and so

$\begin{align} \Delta &= \frac{1}{4} \sqrt{-a^4 - b^4 - c^4 + 2a^2b^2 + 2b^2 c^2 + 2 a^2 c^2} \\ &= \frac{1}{4} \sqrt{ (a+b+c) (-a+b+c) (a-b+c) (a+b-c) }\\ & = \sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}, \end{align}$

which is Heron's formula.

Combining this with $sr=\Delta$, we have

$r^2 = \frac{\Delta^2}{s^2} = \frac{(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)}{s}.$

Similarly, $(s-a)r_a = \Delta$ gives

$r_a^2 = \frac{s(s-b)(s-c)}{s-a}$

and

$r_a = \sqrt{ \frac{s(s-b)(s-c)}{s-a} } .$

From these formulas one can see that the excircles are always larger than the incircle and that the largest excircle is the one tangent to the longest side and the smallest excircle is tangent to the shortest side. Further, combining these formulas yields:

$\Delta=\sqrt{rr_ar_br_c}.$

The ratio of the area of the incircle to the area of the triangle is less than or equal to $\frac{\pi}{3\sqrt{3}}$, with equality holding only for equilateral triangles.

Related constructions

Nine-point circle and Feuerbach point

The circle tangent to all three of the excircles as well as the incircle is known as the nine-point circle. The point where the nine-point circle touches the incircle is known as the Feuerbach point.

Gergonne triangle and point

File:Intouch Triangle and Gergonne Point.svg

A triangle, ΔABC, with incircle (blue), incenter (blue, I), contact triangle (red, ΔT_aT_bT_c) and Gergonne point (green, Ge)

The Gergonne triangle (of ABC) is defined by the 3 touchpoints of the incircle on the 3 sides. The touchpoint opposite A is denoted T_A, etc.

This Gergonne triangle T_AT_BT_C is also known as the contact triangle or intouch triangle of ABC.

The three lines AT_A, BT_B and CT_C intersect in a single point called Gergonne point, denoted as Ge - X(7). The Gergonne point lies in the open orthocentroidal disk punctured at its own center, and could be any point therein.

Interestingly, the Gergonne point of a triangle is the symmedian point of the Gergonne triangle. For a full set of properties of the Gergonne point see.

Trilinear coordinates for the vertices of the intouch triangle are given by

• $\text{vertex}\, A= 0 : \sec^2 \left(\frac{B}{2}\right) :\sec^2\left(\frac{C}{2}\right)$
• $\text{vertex}\, B= \sec^2 \left(\frac{A}{2}\right):0:\sec^2\left(\frac{C}{2}\right)$
• $\text{vertex} \, C= \sec^2 \left(\frac{A}{2}\right) :\sec^2\left(\frac{B}{2}\right):0$

Trilinear coordinates for the Gergonne point are given by

$\sec^2\left(\frac{A}{2}\right) : \sec^2 \left(\frac{B}{2}\right) : \sec^2\left(\frac{C}{2}\right)$,

or, equivalently, by the Law of Sines,

$\frac{bc}{b+ c - a} : \frac{ca}{c + a-b} : \frac{ab}{a+b-c}$.

Nagel triangle and point

The Nagel triangle of ABC is denoted by the vertices X_A, X_B and X_C that are the three points where the excircles touch the reference triangle ABC and where X_A is opposite of A, etc. This triangle X_AX_BX_C is also known as the extouch triangle of ABC. The circumcircle of the extouch triangle X_AX_BX_C is called the Mandart circle. The three lines AX_A, BX_B and CX_C are called the splitters of the triangle; they each bisect the perimeter of the triangle, and they intersect in a single point, the triangle's Nagel point Na - X(8).

Trilinear coordinates for the vertices of the extouch triangle are given by

• $\text{vertex} \, A = 0 : \csc^2\left(\frac{B}{2}\right) : \csc^2\left(\frac{C}{2}\right)$
• $\text{vertex} \, B= \csc^2\left(\frac{A}{2}\right) : 0 : \csc^2\left(\frac{C}{2}\right)$
• $\text{vertex} \, C = \csc^2\left(\frac{A}{2}\right) : \csc^2\left(\frac{B}{2}\right) : 0$

Trilinear coordinates for the Nagel point are given by

$\csc^2\left(\frac{A}{2}\right) : \csc^2 \left(\frac{B}{2}\right) : \csc^2\left(\frac{C}{2}\right)$,

or, equivalently, by the Law of Sines,

$\frac{b+ c - a}{a} : \frac{c + a-b}{b} : \frac{a+b-c}{c}$.

It is the isotomic conjugate of the Gergonne point.

Incentral and excentral triangles

The points of intersection of the interior angle bisectors of ABC with the segments BC, CA, AB are the vertices of the incentral triangle.

Trilinear coordinates for the vertices of the incentral triangle are given by

• $\ \text{vertex} \, A= 0 : 1 : 1$
• $\ \text{vertex} \, B = 1 : 0 : 1$
• $\ \text{vertex} \, C = 1 : 1 : 0$

Trilinear coordinates for the vertices of the excentral triangle are given by

• $\text{vertex} \, A= -1 : 1 : 1$
• $\text{vertex} \, B= 1 : -1 : 1$
• $\text{vertex} \, C= 1 : -1 : -1$

Equations for four circles

Let x : y : z be a variable point in trilinear coordinates, and let u = cos²(A/2), v = cos²(B/2), w = cos²(C/2). The four circles described above are given equivalently by either of the two given equations:

• Incircle:

$\ u^2x^2+v^2y^2+w^2z^2-2vwyz-2wuzx-2uvxy=0$

$\pm \sqrt{x}\cos \frac{A}{2}\pm \sqrt{y}\cos \frac{B}{2}\pm\sqrt{z}\cos \frac{C}{2}=0$

• A-excircle:

$\ u^2x^2+v^2y^2+w^2z^2-2vwyz+2wuzx+2uvxy=0$

$\pm \sqrt{-x}\cos \frac{A}{2}\pm \sqrt{y}\cos \frac{B}{2}\pm\sqrt{z}\cos \frac{C}{2}=0$

• B-excircle:

$\ u^2x^2+v^2y^2+w^2z^2+2vwyz-2wuzx+2uvxy=0$

$\pm \sqrt{x}\cos \frac{A}{2}\pm \sqrt{-y}\cos \frac{B}{2}\pm\sqrt{z}\cos \frac{C}{2}=0$

• C-excircle:

$\ u^2x^2+v^2y^2+w^2z^2+2vwyz+2wuzx-2uvxy=0$

$\pm \sqrt{x}\cos \frac{A}{2}\pm \sqrt{y}\cos \frac{B}{2}\pm\sqrt{-z}\cos \frac{C}{2}=0$

Euler's theorem

Euler's theorem states that in a triangle:

$(R-r_{in})^2=d^2+r_{in}^2,$

where R and r_in are the circumradius and inradius respectively, and d is the distance between the circumcenter and the incenter.

For excircles the equation is similar:

$(R+r_{ex})^2=d^2+r_{ex}^2,$

where r_ex is the radius of one of the excircles, and d is the distance between the circumcenter and this excircle's center.

Other incircle properties

Suppose the tangency points of the incircle divide the sides into lengths of x and y, y and z, and z and x. Then the incircle has the radius

$r = \sqrt{\frac{xyz}{x+y+z}}$

and the area of the triangle is

$K=\sqrt{xyz(x+y+z)}.$

If the altitudes from sides of lengths a, b, and c are h_a, h_b, and h_c then the inradius r is one-third of the harmonic mean of these altitudes, i.e.

$r = \frac{1}{h_a^{-1}+h_b^{-1}+h_c^{-1}}.$

The product of the incircle radius r and the circumcircle radius R of a triangle with sides a, b, and c is

$rR=\frac{abc}{2(a+b+c)}.$

Some relations among the sides, incircle radius, and circumcircle radius are:

$ab+bc+ca=s^2+(4R+r)r,$

$a^2+b^2+c^2=2s^2-2(4R+r)r.$

Any line through a triangle that splits both the triangle's area and its perimeter in half goes through the triangle's incenter (the center of its incircle). There are either one, two, or three of these for any given triangle.

Denoting the center of the incircle of triangle ABC as I, we have

$\frac{IA\cdot IA}{CA \cdot AB}+ \frac{IB \cdot IB}{AB\cdot BC} + \frac{IC \cdot IC}{BC\cdot CA} = 1$

and

$IA \cdot IB \cdot IC=4Rr^2.$

The distance from any vertex to the incircle tangency on either adjacent side is half the sum of the vertex's adjacent sides minus half the opposite side. Thus for example for vertex B and adjacent tangencies T_A and T_C,

$BT_A=BT_C=\frac{BC+AB-AC}{2}.$

The incircle radius is no greater than one-ninth the sum of the altitudes.

The squared distance from the incenter I to the circumcenter O is given by

$OI^2=R(R-2r),$

and the distance from the incenter to the center N of the nine point circle is

$IN=\frac{1}{2}(R-2r) < \frac{1}{2}R.$

The incenter lies in the medial triangle (whose vertices are the midpoints of the sides).

Other excircle properties

The circular hull of the excircles is internally tangent to each of the excircles, and thus is an Apollonius circle. The radius of this Apollonius circle is $\frac{r^2+s^2}{4r}$ where r is the incircle radius and s is the semiperimeter of the triangle.

The following relations hold among the inradius r, the circumradius R, the semiperimeter s, and the excircle radii r_a, r_b, r_c:

$r_a+r_b+r_c=4R+r,$

$r_a r_b+r_br_c+r_cr_a = s^2,$

$r_a^2 + r_b^2 + r_c^2 = (4R+r)^2 -2s^2,$

The circle through the centers of the three excircles has radius 2R.

If H is the orthocenter of triangle ABC, then

$r_a+r_b+r_c+r=AH+BH+CH+2R,$

$r_a^2+r_b^2+r_c^2+r^2=AH^2+BH^2+CH^2+(2R)^2.$

Generalization to other polygons

Some (but not all) quadrilaterals have an incircle. These are called tangential quadrilaterals. Among their many properties perhaps the most important is that their two pairs of opposite sides have equal sums. This is called the Pitot theorem.

More generally, a polygon with any number of sides that has an inscribed circle—one that is tangent to each side—is called a tangential polygon.

See also

• Altitude (triangle)
• Circumgon
• Circumscribed circle
• Ex-tangential quadrilateral
• Harcourt's theorem
• Inconic
• Inscribed sphere
• Power of a point
• Steiner inellipse
• Tangential quadrilateral
• Triangle center

External links

• Derivation of formula for radius of incircle of a triangle
• Weisstein, Eric W., "Incircle", MathWorld.

Interactive

• Triangle incenter   Triangle incircle  Incircle of a regular polygon   With interactive animations
• Constructing a triangle's incenter / incircle with compass and straightedge An interactive animated demonstration
• Equal Incircles Theorem at cut-the-knot
• Five Incircles Theorem at cut-the-knot
• Pairs of Incircles in a Quadrilateral at cut-the-knot
• An interactive Java applet for the incenterde:Inkreis