Name Class Date

8.2 Angle Bisectors of Triangles

Essential Question: H
 ow can you use angle bisectors to find the point that is equidistant
from all the sides of a triangle?

Resource
Locker

Investigating Distance from a Point

Explore
to a Line
Use a ruler, a protractor, and a piece of tracing paper to investigate points on the bisector of an angle.

A Use the
ruler to draw a large angle on tracing paper. Label it ABC. Fold the paper so

coincides with BA
that BC .Open the paper. The crease is the bisector of ABC. Plot a point
P on the bisector.

A
A
B P
B
C C

B .Measure the lengths of
Use the ruler to draw several different segments from point P to BA

the segments. Then measure the angle each segment makes with BA .What do you notice

?
about the shortest segment you can draw from point P to BA

C
Draw the shortest segment you can from point P to BC . Measure its length. How does
its
?
length compare with the length of the shortest segment you drew from point P to BA
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Reflect

1. you choose a point Q on the bisector of

Suppose XYZ and you draw the perpendicular segment from Q
and the perpendicular segment from Q to YZ
toYX
. What do you think will be true about these segments?

2. Discussion What do you think is the best way to measure the distance from a point to a line? Why?

Module 8 371 Lesson 2

 Explain 1 Applying the Angle Bisector Theorem
and Its Converse
The distance from a point to a line is the length of the perpendicular segment from the point to the line. You will
prove the following theorems about angle bisectors and the sides of the angle they bisect in Exercises 16 and 17.

Angle Bisector Theorem

If a point is on the bisector an of angle, then it is equidistant from the sides of the angle. A
C
APC BPC, so AC = BC.
P
B

Converse of the Angle Bisector Theorem

If a point in the interior of an angle is equidistant from the sides of the angle, then it A
is on the bisector of the angle.
C

AC = BC, so APC BPC P

B

Example 1 Find each measure.

A LM

J
12.8
M
K
L

is the bisector of JKL, so LM = JM = 12.8.
KM

mABD, given that mABC = 112

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

B
_
BA
Since AD = DC, AD , and DC BC
, you know that BD

D
74 bisects ABC by the Theorem.
A
74 1 m
So, mABD = _ = .
2
B C

Reflect

3. In the Converse of the Angle Bisector Theorem, why is it important to say that the point must be in the
interior of the angle?

Module 8 372 Lesson 2

 Your Turn

Find each measure.

4. QS 5. mLJM, given that mKJM = 29

S
L
14.7 62
K

R 62
J
Q P M

Explain 2 Constructing an Inscribed Circle

A circle is inscribed in a polygon if each side of the polygon is tangent to the circle. In
W
the figure, circle C is inscribed in quadrilateral WXYZ and this circle is called the incircle
(inscribed circle) of the quadrilateral.
Z
In order to construct the incircle of a triangle, you need to find the center of the circle. This C
point is called the incenter of the triangle.
X Y
Example 2 Use a compass and straightedge to construct the inscribed circle of
PQR.
Step 1 The center
_ of the _ inscribed circle must be equidistant Q
from PQ and PR. What is the set of points equidistant
_ _
from PQ and PR?
Construct this set of points.
_ _
Step 2 The center must also be equidistant from PR_ and QR
_.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

What is the set of points equidistant from PR and QR?

Construct this set of points. R

Step 3 The center must lie at the intersection of the two sets
of points you constructed. Label this point C. P

Step 4 Place the point of your compass at C and open the compass
until the pencil just touches a side of PQR. Then draw the inscribed circle.

Reflect
_ _
6. Suppose you started by constructing the set of points_ _ from PR and QR, and
equidistant
then constructed the set of points equidistant from QR and QP. Would you have found
the same center point? Check by doing this construction.

Module 8 373 Lesson 2

 Explain 3 Using Properties of Angle Bisectors
As you have seen, the angle bisectors of a triangle are concurrent. The point of concurrency is
the incenter of the triangle.

Incenter Theorem
The angle bisectors of a triangle intersect at a point B
that is equidistant from the sides of the triangle.
Y Z

P
C
PX = PY = PZ X
A

Example 3
JV and
KV are angle bisectors of JKL. Find each
measure. K
7.3
_
the distance from V to KL W
A
V
V is the incenter of JKL. By the Incenter
_ Theorem, V is equidistant from
_ the sides L
J
of JKL. The distance from V to JK is 7.3. So the distance from V to KL is also 7.3. 19 106

B mVKL

_
JV is the bisector of . mKJL = 2 ( )=
Triangle Sum Theorem + + mJKL = 180

Subtract from each side. mJKL =

_
KV is the bisector of JKL. 1
mVKL = _
2 ( )=

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Reflect

7. In Part A, is there another distance you can determine? Explain.

Your Turn
_ _
QX and RX are angle bisectors of PQR. Find each measure.
_
8. the distance from X to PQ Q
X
R
52 12
P Y 19.2
9. mPQX

Module 8 374 Lesson 2

 Elaborate
10. P and Q are the circumcenter and incenter of RST, but not necessarily in that order. S
Which point is the circumcenter? Which point is the incenter? Explain how you can
Q
tell without constructing any bisectors.
P

R T

11. Complete the table by filling in the blanks to make each statement true.

Circumcenter Incenter

Definition The point of concurrency of the The point of concurrency of the

Distance Equidistant from the Equidistant from the

Location (Inside, Outside, On) Can be Always the triangle

the triangle

12. Essential Question Check-In How do you know that the intersection of the bisectors of the angles of a
triangle is equidistant from the sides of the triangle?

Evaluate: Homework and Practice

Online Homework
1. Use a compass and straightedge to investigate points on the bisector of an angle. Hints and Help
On a separate piece of paper, draw a large angle A. Extra Practice
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

a. Construct the bisector of A.

b. Choose a point on the angle bisector you constructed. Label it P. Construct a
perpendicular through P to each side of A.

c. Explain how to use a compass to show that P is equidistant from the sides of A.

Find each measure.

2. VP V 3. mLKM, given that mJKL = 63
S

P J
9.5
M
W 4.9
9.5
K
L

Module 8 375 Lesson 2

4. AD 5. mHFJ, given that mGFJ = 45
D

51.8 10.2
H G
A 10.2
B C F J

Construct an inscribed circle for each triangle.

6. 7.
J
N
M

K L
P

CF are angle bisectors of CDE. Find each measure.
and EF 17
_ C D

8. the distance from F to CD 9. mFED F 54
42.1
G
E

and SJ
TJ are angle bisectors of RST. Find each measure.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

_

10. the distance from J to RS 11. mRTJ R
42
J 14
S
T 8.37

Module 8 376 Lesson 2

 Find each measure.
12. BC C A 13. VY

Y 2m + 9
6y - 16 V
5m - 3
B
4y + 6 D
U X

14. mJKL 15. mGDF D (7y - 3)

J (6y + 3)
(2x + 1) G H
L
2.7 2.7
K F
M
(3x - 9)

Q
16. Complete the following proof of the Angle Bisector Theorem.

Given: bisects QPR.
PS P
S
_

SQ
PQ PR
, SR
Prove: SQ = SR R

Statements Reasons
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

_ _
bisects QPR. SQ PQ
1. PS PR
, SR 1.

2. QPS RPS 2.

3. SQP and SRP are right angles. 3. Definition of perpendicular

4. SQP SRP 4. All right angles are congruent.

5. 5. Reflexive Property of Congruence

6. 6. AAS Triangle Congruence Theorem

_ _
7. SQ
SR
7.

8. SQ = SR 8. Congruent segments have the same

length.

Module 8 377 Lesson 2

17. Complete the following proof of the Converse of the Angle Bisector Theorem.
_ _
Given:VX
YX
, VZ
YZ , VX = VZ.
X
Prove: bisects XYZ.
YV
V
Y

Statements Reasons
_ _
1. VX YX
,VZ
YZ
,VX = VZ 1.

2. VXY and VZY are right angles. 2.

_ _
3. YV YV
3.

4. YXV YZV 4.

5. XYV ZYV 5.

6. 6.

18. Complete the following proof of the Incenter Theorem. B

Z
Given:
AP
_ _
, BP bisect
, and_CP _ _ A, _B and C, respectively. Y
P
PX AC ,PY
AB
,PZ
BC

A C
PX = PY = PZ
Prove: X
Let P be the incenter of ABC. Since P lies on the

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company Image Credits: Pep Roig/

bisector of A, PX = PY by the Theorem. Similarly, P
also , so PY = PZ. Therefore, PX = PY = PZ, by
the .
19. A city plans to build a firefighters monument in a triangular
park between three streets. Draw a sketch on the figure to
show where the city should place the monument so that it is
the same distance from all three streets. Justify your sketch.

Fillmore Street
Alamy

Polk Street
Buchanan Street

Module 8 378 Lesson 2

 20. A school plans to place a flagpole on the lawn so that it
is equidistant from Mercer Street and Houston Street.
They also want the flagpole to be equidistant from a Mercer Street B
water fountain at W and a bench at B. Find the point W
F where the school should place the flagpole. Mark the
point on the figure and explain your answer.

Houston Street

21. P is the incenter of ABC. Determine whether each B

statement is true or false. Select the correct answer for A
each lettered part. P

_
.
a. Point P must lie on the perpendicular bisector of BC True False
b. Point P must lie on the angle bisector of C. True False
c. If AP is 23 mm long, then CP must be 23 mm long. True False
_
d. If the distance from point P to
_AB is x, then

the distance from point P to BC must be x. True False
_
e. The perpendicular segment from point P to AC
is longer than
_ the perpendicular segment from
.
point P to BC True False
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Module 8 379 Lesson 2

 H.O.T. Focus on Higher Order Thinking

22. What If? In the Explore, you constructed the angle bisector of acute ABC and
found that if a point is on the bisector, then it is equidistant from the sides of the
angle. Would you get the same results if ABC were a straight angle? Explain.

23. Explain the Error A student was asked to draw the incircle for P
PQR. He constructed angle bisectors as shown. Then he drew a
circle through points J, K, and L. Describe the students error. L
K
S

Q
J R

Lesson Performance Task

Teresa has just purchased a farm with a field shaped like a right
triangle. The triangle has the measurements shown in the diagram. 51 yd
Teresa plans to install central pivot irrigation in the field. In this type 24 yd
of irrigation, a circular region of land is irrigated by a long arm of
sprinklersthe radius of the circlethat rotates around a central
pivot point like the hands of a clock, dispensing water as it moves. 45 yd

a. Describe how she can find where to locate the pivot.

b. Find the area of the irrigation circle. To find the radius, r, of a

circle inscribed in a triangle with sides of length a, b, and c,


(k - a)(k - b)(k - c)
k
you can use the formula r = ________________
, where

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

k
12( a + b + c).
k = __

c. About how much of the field will not be irrigated?

Module 8 380 Lesson 2