Given that AB=12, CD=1, angle BAC=90∘, and the semicircle is tangent to BC,find the radius of the semicircle.
Let r be the radius.
Let O be the midpoint of AD, i.e., the center of the semicircle.
Let T be the point where the line BC touches the semicircle.
As BA and BT are both tangents to the circle, meeting at the same point:
BT = BA = 12
Then, using Pythagorean theorem on △CTO, CO2=CT2+OT2
Notice that CO = CD + DO = 1 + r, and OT is one of the radii of the semicircle.
(1+r)2=CT2+r2CT=√2r+1
Also, CA = CD + DO + OA = 1 + r + r = 1 + 2r
Using Pythagorean theorem on △CAB,
(1+2r)2+122=(√2r+1+12)2
Let t=√2r+1.
t4+144=(t+12)2t4−t2−24t=0t(t3−t−24)=0
Factorising further using Factor Theorem, (t - 3) is a factor of (t3 - t - 24).
By long division, t3 - t - 24 = (t - 3)(t2 + 3t + 8).
t(t−3)(t2+3t+8)=0
Checking the discriminant of (t2 + 3t + 8), there are no real t satisfying t2 + 3t + 8 = 0.
Also, t = 0 would imply r = -1/2, which isn't possible either.
The only possible scenario is t = 3.
Recall the definition of t (defined above)
√2r+1=32r+1=9r=4
P.S. Considering the difficulty of this problem, I am suspecting this is some kind of math contest problems