English

The incircle of a triangle

Noun

incircle ‎(plural incircles)

1. (geometry) A circle within a polygon, especially a triangle, that is tangent to each side.
   • 2003, Clark Kimberling, Geometry in Action: A Discovery Approach Using the Geometer's Sketchpad, page 16,

     To construct the incircle of ΔABC, we need the center of the circle and a pass-through point.

   • 2005, István Reiman, International Mathematical Olympiad: 1959-1975, page 51,

     Having constructed K, the incircle of the quadrilateral can be easily constructed since it is tangent to BA and BC.

   • 2012, Tom M. Apostol, Mamikon A. Mnatsakanian, New Horizons in Geometry, Mathematical Association of America, page 106,

     For example, in Figure 4.2a only two edges of the polygon are tangent to the incircle. The other four edges do not even touch the incircle, but their extensions, shown by dotted lines, are tangent to the incircle.

Synonyms

• (circle tangent to all sides): inscribed circle

Usage notes

A triangle always has an incircle, whose centre (the incentre) is the point of concurrence of the angle bisectors. A polygon that has an incircle is called a circumscribed polygon or tangential polygon and is said to be inscribable.

Related terms

• incentre / incenter
• inradius
• insphere

Translations

Verb

incircle ‎(third-person singular simple present incircles, present participle incircling, simple past and past participle incircled)

1. Archaic form of encircle.

See also

• excircle
• circumcircle

Anagrams

• circline