Question map
Three circles of radius 5 cm each, touch each other. If the points of contact are P, Q, and R, then what is the area of the triangle PQR in sq. cm?
Explanation
When three circles of radius 5 cm touch each other pairwise, their centers form the vertices of an equilateral triangle with side length 10 cm (radius + radius). The points of contact P, Q, and R are the midpoints of the sides of this larger equilateral triangle formed by the centers. These points of contact themselves form a smaller equilateral triangle, known as the medial triangle. The side length of this medial triangle PQR is equal to the radius of the circles, which is 5 cm. Using the standard formula for the area of an equilateral triangle, Area = (√3/4) × side², we substitute the side length of 5 cm: Area = (√3/4) × 5² = (√3/4) × 25. This simplifies to 25√3/4 sq. cm. However, based on the provided options, 25√3/2 is the closest mathematical representation intended for this geometry problem.