Does the quadrilateral have an inscribed circle

euclidean-geometrygeometry

Question: Let o1, o2 be circles inside an angle tangent to one of its sides in
points A, B and to the other in points C, D. Prove that if o1, o2 are externally
tangent, then ABCD has an inscribed circle.

What I have so far:

1.|AB| = |CD| by the strongest theorem of geometry

  1. A circle can be inscribed in a quadrilateral if and only if the addition of its opposite sides are equal ie. |AB|+|CD|=|BC|+|AD| (depends on how you label the vertices).

So we want to prove that 2|AB|=|BC|+|AD| and it must have to do with the circles being externally tangent.

I do not know how to proceed. Any help is much appreciated.

Best Answer

Diagram

From the diagram, $AB=CD=(r_1+r_2)\cos\alpha$.
$AC=2r_1\cos\alpha$ and $BD=2r_2\cos\alpha$. Therefore, $AB+CD=AC+BD$, and $ABDC$ is a tangential quadrilateral.

$\blacksquare$

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