At 11:44 AM -0600 10/11/99, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>Assume 3 unit circles (radius = 1).  A point on the perimeter of each
>circle is tangent to the other two perimeters.  There is another circle
>inscribed in the middle space defined by the three larger circles.
>The perimeter of this smaller circle has points tangent to the
>perimeter of each of the three larger circles.  Find the area of the
>small circle.


Boy, does this bring back memories!

The area is
                     2
   (2(sqrt(3))/3 - 1)  * pi

or

   .07542...

The trick (obviously) is to find the radius of the smaller circle, which,
in this case is   2(sqrt(3))/3 - 1

Let me know if you need details on how to derive this.


Barry Lake                                 [log in to unmask]
Allegro Consultants, Inc.                  www.allegro.com
(408)252-2330