The perimeter of a triangle is 30 cm and the circumference of its incircle is 88 cm. The area of the triangle is
Aptitude
Area
Difficulty: Medium
Choose an option
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A70 cm$^2$
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B140 cm$^2$
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C210 cm$^2$
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D420 cm$^2$
Answer
Correct Answer: 210 cm$^2$
Explanation
### Concept & Inradius and Area Relationship
The area ($A$) of any triangle can be expressed as the product of its inradius ($r$) and its semi-perimeter ($s$):
$$A = r \times s$$
The circumference of the incircle is $C = 2\pi r$, which allows us to find the inradius $r$.
### Step-by-Step Solution
1. **Find the Inradius ($r$):**
Given the circumference is 88 cm:
$2\pi r = 88$
$2 \times \frac{22}{7} \times r = 88$
$\frac{44}{7} \times r = 88$
$r = \frac{88 \times 7}{44} = 2 \times 7 = 14$ cm.
2. **Find the Semi-perimeter ($s$):**
Given the perimeter is 30 cm:
$s = \frac{\text{Perimeter}}{2} = \frac{30}{2} = 15$ cm.
3. **Calculate the Area ($A$):**
$A = r \times s$
$A = 14 \times 15 = 210$ cm$^2$.
### Exam Strategy & Shortcut
When you see a circumference of 88, recognize instantly that it's double 44, which corresponds to a radius of 14 (since $C=44$ means $r=7$ for $\pi=22/7$). Then immediately multiply this radius (14) by half the given perimeter (15) to get $14 \times 15 = 210$. The entire process can be done mentally.
### Common Pitfall
Students often multiply the inradius by the full perimeter instead of the semi-perimeter, which leads to the incorrect answer of 420 cm$^2$. Always remember $A = rs$, not $rp$.
### Final Answer
Therefore, the correct answer is **210 cm$^2**.