# Maximize the area of an isosceles triangle bounded by a circle

Maximize the area of an isosceles triangle (let the smallest of the triangle's three angles = $2\theta$)

Triangle is bounded by a circle with radius $R$

## Find angle $\theta$ which maximizes the area of the bounded triangle

Drew this out with $2\theta$ vertex pointing upward

Drew lines from center of the circle out to each vertex and noted that the angle directly below $2\theta$ (at center of circle) = $4\theta$

Next steps: possibly finding $\sin(2\theta)$ and $\cos(2\theta)?$ Not sure where to go from here. Any help welcomed.

• Can you edit with any visual representation or nomenclature of points? Its not very clear. – Love Invariants May 9 '18 at 18:03
• Do you know which is the triangle, isosceles or not, of largest area inscribed in a circle? – Christian Blatter May 9 '18 at 19:08
• Hint: The area of a regular polygon is also given in terms of the radius r of its inscribed circle and its perimeter p by A = 1/2 ⋅ p ⋅ r – bukwyrm May 9 '18 at 21:05

Hint: Start by drawing a figure. Make a circle of radius $R$, with center at $O$. on the vertical diameter, the top point is $A$. Draw a horizontal line below the $O$ point. The intersections with the circle are points $B$ and $C$. The intersection of $BC$ with the vertical is $D$. Note that $OA=OB=OC=R$. Angle $\angle BAD=\theta$. Angle $\angle OBA=\theta$ (isosceles triangle). Angle $\angle ABD=\pi/2-\theta$. Calculate angle $\angle OBD$. Then calculate $OD$ and $BD$ in the triangle $\triangle OBD$ (right angle triangle) as a function of $R$ and $\theta$. The area of the triangle $\triangle ABC$ is given by $area=AD\cdot(2BD)/2$. This is going to be a trigonometric expression as a function of $\theta$. Take the derivative, equate it to $0$, to find $\theta$
Next substitute in for x and y, expressions in terms of $\theta. x = rsin(2\theta)$ and $y = rcos(2\theta)$......to obtain:
$$A = rsin(2\theta)(r + rcos(2\theta))$$ $$A = r^2sin(2\theta) + r^2sin(2\theta)cos(2\theta)$$ $$dA/d\theta = r^2cos(2\theta)+r^2cos^2(2\theta) - r^2(sin^2(2\theta)$$
Solve for $dA/d\theta = 0$ and you should get $\theta = pi/6 = 30\deg$