Investigating Bisectors in Triangles Part 2

The small rural towns of Archimedes, Bernoulli, and Cantor are exploring all options on where to build a common utility provider. The cost of building at the circumcenter of the triangle would also include the cost of creating new roadways from the plant to each town. Roads currently exist in a triangular formation between each pair of towns, as shown in the diagram below. The town leaders would like to consider the possibility of finding a location for the plant that would be equidistant from the pre-existing roadways.

Recall from previous class days that points that lie on an ________________ ______________________ are equidistant from the sides. Construct the three bisectors of this type on the acute triangle above. Then drop a perpendicular line from the point of concurrency to each side of the triangle. Label the points of intersection X, Y and Z (Order will not matter.) You can find a review on how to accomplish this task on page 130 of your textbook. Describe how this process will result in a point (label it I) that is equidistant from the sides of triangle ABC. Verify that the point of concurrency is equidistant from the sides of the triangle by drawing a circle centered at I that intersects points X, Y, and Z.

Vocabulary - IMPORTANT!! The point of concurrency for the angle bisectors of a triangle is called a incenter. The circle centered at the incenter inscribes the triangle. This simply means it will intersect all 3 sides of the triangle. Pick up a copy of an obtuse triangle and a right triangle from the table at the front of the room. Construct the inscribed circle for each. Then complete the sentences below. When the angle bisectors are constructed in an acute triangle, the incenter is located __________________ the triangle. When the angle bisectors are constructed in an obtuse triangle, the incenter is located __________________ the triangle. When the angle bisectors are constructed in a right triangle, the incenter is located at the __________________ the triangle. Ultimately this means the incenter of a triangle is sometimes/always/never inside the triangle. (Circle the appropriate response.) Concurrency of the Angle Bisectors of a Triangle Theorem The angle bisectors of a triangle intersect at a point that is equidistant from the sides of the triangle. (When told the angle bisectors have been constructed, you may conclude that the incenter is equidistant from the sides.)

Complete the proof of the theorem by filling in the blanks below.

Statements 1. Segments AP, BP, and CP are the angle bisectors of triangle ABC 2. PE = PF PF = PD PD = PE 3. 4. P is equidistant from sides AB, BC, and AC of triangle ABC

Reasons 1. Given

2.

3. Transitive Property 4.

Problems to consider - Patty paper is available for you to use in your investigations. An angle bisector sometimes/always/never passes through the midpoint of the opposite side of a triangle. If sometimes, explain when this would happen. If never, explain why it is impossible.

A perpendicular bisector is sometimes/always/never simultaneously an angle bisector. If sometimes, explain when this would happen. If never, explain why it is impossible.

Is it possible for one angle bisector to be perpendicular to the opposite side of a triangle while the other two angle bisectors are not perpendicular to their corresponding opposite sides? If so, when is this possible? If not, explain why it is impossible.

Is it possible for two angle bisectors to be perpendicular to their corresponding opposite sides of a triangle while the other angle bisector is not perpendicular to its corresponding opposite side? If so, when is this possible? If not, explain why it is impossible.

Is it possible for the circumcenter and the incenter of a triangle to be the same point? If so, when is this possible? If not, explain why this is impossible.

Class Notes This is part 2 in our investigation of triangle centers. Upon completion of this investigation, students are to complete p275 #10-21, 23, 27, 28 for homework.

It is imperative that it be stressed to the S that they will be responsible for knowing the names of all centers, as well as their relationships to the vertices or sides of the triangle. S should be able to explain how the constructions are completed, as well as be able to complete the constructions. S should also know the locations of the points of concurrency based on the type of construction and type of triangle. S are also responsible for knowing what it means to circumscribe or inscribe a triangle. While problems on upcoming tests/quizzes will be vocabulary based to some degree, content will also be application-based. Word problems, some graphical in nature, will be a component of formative and summative assessments.