JEE Challenger
More from Straight Lines

Equations of Sides of Equilateral Triangle

Comprehension Passage

A circle CC of radius 1 is inscribed in an equilateral triangle PQRPQR. The points of contact of CC with the sides PQ,QR,RPPQ, QR, RP are D,E,FD, E, F, respectively. The line PQPQ is given by the equation 3x+y−6=0\sqrt{3} x+y-6=0 and the point DD is (332,32)\left(\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{3}{2}\right). Further, it is given that the origin and the centre of CC are on the same side of the line PQPQ.

Equations of the sides QRQR, RPRP are

Options

A

y=23x+1,y=−23x−1y=\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}} x+1, y=-\frac{2}{\sqrt{3}} x-1

B

y=13x,y=0y=\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} x, y=0

C

y=32x+1,y=−32x−1y=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} x+1, y=-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} x-1

D

y=3x,y=0y=\sqrt{3} x, y=0

Correct

Step-by-Step Solution

To find the equations of the sides QRQR and RPRP of the equilateral triangle PQRPQR, we proceed through the following steps:

Step 1: Find the Centre of the Inscribed Circle CC

The line equation of side PQPQ is:
3x+y−6=0\sqrt{3}x + y - 6 = 0

The unit normal vector to the line PQPQ directed outwards is:
n^=(3(3)2+12,1(3)2+12)=(32,12)\hat{\mathbf{n}} = \left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{(\sqrt{3})^2 + 1^2}}, \frac{1}{\sqrt{(\sqrt{3})^2 + 1^2}}\right) = \left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{1}{2}\right)

The point of contact on side PQPQ is given as D=(332,32)D = \left(\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{3}{2}\right) and the radius of the circle is r=1r = 1. The centre of the circle O′O' lies along the normal to the line PQPQ passing through DD:
O′=D±rn^=(332±32,32±12)O' = D \pm r \hat{\mathbf{n}} = \left(\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{2} \pm \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{3}{2} \pm \frac{1}{2}\right)

We are given that the origin (0,0)(0, 0) and the centre O′O' lie on the same side of the line PQPQ.
Substituting (0,0)(0, 0) into the line equation:
3(0)+0−6=−6<0\sqrt{3}(0) + 0 - 6 = -6 < 0

Choosing the minus sign for O′O':
O′=(332−32,32−12)=(3,1)O' = \left(\frac{3\sqrt{3}}{2} - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{3}{2} - \frac{1}{2}\right) = (\sqrt{3}, 1)
Evaluating the line equation at (3,1)(\sqrt{3}, 1):
3(3)+1−6=3+1−6=−2<0\sqrt{3}(\sqrt{3}) + 1 - 6 = 3 + 1 - 6 = -2 < 0
Since this has the same sign as the origin, the centre of the circle CC is indeed:
O′=(3,1)O' = (\sqrt{3}, 1)


Step 2: Determine the Slopes of the Sides QRQR and RPRP

The slope of side PQPQ is:
m1=−3  ⟹  θ1=120∘m_1 = -\sqrt{3} \implies \theta_1 = 120^\circ

Since △PQR\triangle PQR is an equilateral triangle, each interior angle is 60∘60^\circ. Hence, the angles of inclination of the other two sides QRQR and RPRP must differ from θ1\theta_1 by ±60∘\pm 60^\circ:
θ2=120∘−60∘=60∘  ⟹  m2=tan⁡60∘=3\theta_2 = 120^\circ - 60^\circ = 60^\circ \implies m_2 = \tan 60^\circ = \sqrt{3}
θ3=120∘+60∘=180∘≡0∘  ⟹  m3=tan⁡0∘=0\theta_3 = 120^\circ + 60^\circ = 180^\circ \equiv 0^\circ \implies m_3 = \tan 0^\circ = 0


Step 3: Find the Equations of the Tangents

The circle has centre (3,1)(\sqrt{3}, 1) and radius r=1r = 1. Both sides QRQR and RPRP are tangent to this circle.

  1. For the side with slope m3=0m_3 = 0:
    The equation is horizontal:
    y=cy = c
    The perpendicular distance from the centre (3,1)(\sqrt{3}, 1) to this line must be equal to the radius r=1r = 1:
    ∣1−c∣=1  ⟹  1−c=±1  ⟹  c=0 or c=2|1 - c| = 1 \implies 1 - c = \pm 1 \implies c = 0 \text{ or } c = 2
    To form a valid triangle containing the inscribed circle with side PQPQ (where y≤6y \le 6), the tangent is:
    y=0y = 0

  2. For the side with slope m2=3m_2 = \sqrt{3}:
    The equation is of the form:
    3x−y+c′=0\sqrt{3}x - y + c' = 0
    The perpendicular distance from (3,1)(\sqrt{3}, 1) to this line is:
    ∣3(3)−1+c′∣(3)2+(−1)2=1  ⟹  ∣3−1+c′∣2=1  ⟹  ∣2+c′∣=2\frac{|\sqrt{3}(\sqrt{3}) - 1 + c'|}{\sqrt{(\sqrt{3})^2 + (-1)^2}} = 1 \implies \frac{|3 - 1 + c'|}{2} = 1 \implies |2 + c'| = 2
    This gives:
    2+c′=±2  ⟹  c′=0 or c′=−42 + c' = \pm 2 \implies c' = 0 \text{ or } c' = -4
    For c′=0c' = 0, the line passes through the origin and intersects the other two sides to form the equilateral triangle surrounding the circle:
    3x−y=0  ⟹  y=3x\sqrt{3}x - y = 0 \implies y = \sqrt{3}x

Thus, the equations of the sides QRQR and RPRP are:
y=3xandy=0y = \sqrt{3}x \quad \text{and} \quad y = 0

Therefore, the correct option is D.