(4) The length of DE can now be worked out from the coordinates of D and E:

√
DE = 3 (r2 − a2 ) − a.

Geometric Proof of a
(5) The area of triangle DEF can now be worked out using the above expression:
√ (√

ClassRoom
)2
3 2 2
Area of △DEF = 3 (r − a ) − a

Trigonometric Identity
4
√ √ √
3r2 3 − 2a2 3 − 6a r2 − a2
= .
4
(6) Next, we find θ = DCE, using the length of DE:
DE/2
sin θ =
r
SHAILESH SHIRALI The following diagram
√ is a “proof without words” (also known as
a ‘visual proof’) for r2 −
3 (the a2 ) − a
trigonometric
= . identity
2r
(7) This allows us to find the area of the minor segment bounded by segment DE and circle ω3 :
csc 2xr=2 (cot
θ − 2x
sin θ+)tan x.
Area of segment Dω3 E = .
2
(8) Finally, the area of the region DEF is given by:
Area of region DEF = Area of △DEF + 3 · Area of segment Dω3 E.
This simplifies, after a lot of work, to:
√ ( )
√
3 √2 2
3
− a r − a + a 2a 3 ( r − a ) + a + r2
2 2
2 4
√ ( (√ ) )
3√ 2 2 2 2 2
− 3 (r − a ) 2a 3 (r − a ) + a + r
4
(√ ) √ 2
3 ( r2 − a2 ) − a 1 √ 3 3r
+ 3r2 sin−1 − 3a2 +
2r 2 4
This is the required area.
(9) For r = 10, a = 6, we get:
(√ ) ( )
−1 1 ( √ )
Area of region DEF = 36 3 − 4 + 300 sin 4 3−3
10
≈ 39.4628 square units.
Keywords: Identity, trigonometry, visual proof

The
The COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY MATHEMATICS
MATHEMATICS CENTRE
CENTRE (CoMaC)
(CoMaC) is an
is an outreach
outreach arm
arm of of Rishi
Rishi Valley
Valley Education
Education Centre
Centre
(AP)
(AP) and
and Sahyadri
Sahyadri School
School (KFI).
(KFI). It holds
It holds workshops
workshops in teaching
in the the teaching of mathematics
of mathematics and undertakes
and undertakes preparation
preparation of
teaching materials
of teaching for State
materials Governments
for State and NGOs.
Governments CoMaC
and NGOs. may be
CoMaC maycontacted at shailesh.shirali@gmail.com.
be contacted at shailesh.shirali@gmail.com.

Azim Premji University At Right Angles, July 2018 135

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