Karan Patel

A Mathematical Study of the Areas Contained Between

Tangent Circles?

BY, Karan Patel

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 Karan Patel

Abstract

This paper is about how to find the area between tangent circles. There are various

regular polygons formed by connecting center of the tangent circles. The area of regular

polygons was used to find the area between tangent circles through the use of calculations

and charts, a formula was found. This formula was proven to work for all cases. There is

a relationship between the regular polygons and the area between tangent circles.

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 Karan Patel

Problem Statement:

Find the area contained between three circles of radius 10, each of which is externally

tangent to the other two, as shown.

Table #1

The area of the polygons and the area between tangent

circles

polygon # of circles Area of circle Area of Area between

polygon tangent circles

triangle 3 314.1592 86.60254 16.1254481
square 4 314.1592 400 85.8407346
pentagon 5 314.1592 688.19 216.9520619
hexagon 6 314.1592 1039.236 410.9119542

Solution:

To find the area, begin by drawing the diagram again with the given information put in.

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 Karan Patel

10

10 10

After inputting the information about the radius of 10 into the diagram, use this

information to reconfigure the diagram, making an equilateral triangle out of the radii.

Since the constructed triangle is made by two radii of 10 on each side, the sides of

the triangle are all twenty, so the triangle is equilateral. To find the area contained

between the circles, we must find the area of the triangle. Construct a perpendicular

bisector that bisects any side of the triangle, as shown below. This will create two

triangles.

10 10

20 20

10 10

10 20 10

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 Karan Patel

Since the constructed line bisects the bottom side, the two sides are equal. Also, the

bisector formed two right angles. To find the area of the whole triangle, the area of the

two smaller triangles is needed. To find the area of the smaller triangles, you must find

the length of the missing side. You can find the missing side by using the Pythagorean

Theorem.

a2 +b2 = c2
so
a = c2 −b2
2

In the equation, a, and b are sides of the triangle, and c is the hypotenuse. Since a side is

missing from the triangle, the second equation must be used. Now, replace b with one

side, 10, and c with the hypotenuse, 20.

a 2 = 20 2 −10 2
a 2 = 400 −100
a 2 = 300
a 2 = 300
a =17 .32050808

Now, find the area of the smaller triangles by multiplying the base times the height and

dividing by 2.

Base (Height )
2

Now replace the base with 10, and the height with 17.32050808.

10 (17 .32050808 )
=
2
173 .2050808
=
2
86 .6025404

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 Karan Patel

Since the area of one of the small triangles is 86.6025404, then the area of both of the

small triangles, or the whole triangle, is 173.2050808.

An alternative and easier way to find the area of the triangle is by using the formula for

the area of an equilateral triangle.

3
A =S2
4

In the above equation, S is the length of one of the sides, and A is the area of the triangle.

If you plug in a side of 20, you get the following results.

3
A = 20 2
4
3
A = 400
4
A = 400 (.4330127019 )
A = 173 .2050808

Since the area of the triangle is now known, the area of the pieces of circle inside the

triangle must also be known.

60
20 20

60 60

20

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 Karan Patel

Knowing that the triangle is equilateral, it can also be concluded that the triangle is

equiangular. Since there are 180º in a triangle, and there are three angles, and if all the

angles are equal, then each angle measures 60º. To find the area of the parts of the circles

that are inside the triangle, the area of the whole circle must first be found. The equation

for the area of a circle and the area of the circle is below.

Area = Π( radius )2
so
Π(10 ) =
2

Π(100 ) =
314 .1592654

As shown above, the area of each of the circles with a radius of 10 is 314.1592654. Since

60 1
the angles of the triangle are all 60 º and every circle has 360º, = of each circle is
360 6

1
inside the triangle. Now the area of the circle is needed.
6

1 
 314 .1592654 =
6 
52 .35987756

1
Since there are three circles, multiply the area of the circle by three.
6

52 .35987756 ( 3) =
157 .0796327

Knowing that the area of the circles inside the triangle is 157.0796327, and that the area

of the triangle is 173.2050808, you can subtract the area of the circles inside of the

triangle from the area of the triangle.

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 Karan Patel

173 .2050808 −157 .0796327 =

16 .1254481

The difference of the two numbers is 16.1254481, so the area contained by the three

circles is 16.1254481.

Case #1

Find the area contained between four circles of radius 10, each of which

is externally tangent to two others, as shown.

Solution:

To find the area, begin by drawing the diagram again with the given

information put in.

10
10

10 10

After inputting the information about the radius of 10 into the diagram, use this

information to reconfigure the diagram, making a square out of the radii.

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 Karan Patel

10 10

10
10

10 10

10 10

Since the constructed square is made by two radii of 10 on each side, the sides of

the square are all twenty. To find the area contained between the circles, we must find

the area of the square. Below is the formula for the area of a square.

A = S2

In the above formula, S represents the length of one side of the square, and A

represents the total area. Plug in twenty as one side of the square, and then follow the

formula to find the area.

A = 20 2
A = 400

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 Karan Patel

Since the area of the square is now known, the area of the pieces of circle inside

the square must also be known.

10 10

10 10
90 90

90 90
10 10

10 10

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 Karan Patel

Since there are 360º in a square, and all four angles are equal in a square, then

each angle measures 90º. To find the area of the parts of the circles that are inside the

square, the area of the whole circle must first be found. The equation for the area of a

circle and the area of the circle is below.

Area = Π( radius )2
so
Π(10 ) =
2

Π(100 ) =
314 .1592654

As shown above, the area of each of the circles with a radius of 10 is 314.1592654.

90 1
Since the angles of the square are all 90º, and every circle has 360º, = of each
360 4

1
circle is inside the triangle. Now the area of the circle is needed.
4

1 
 314 .1592654 =
4
78 .53981635

1
Since there are four circles, multiply the area of the circle by four.
4

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 Karan Patel

78 .53981635 ( 4) =
314 .1592654

Knowing that the area of the circles inside the triangle is 314.1592654, and that the area

of the square is 400, you can subtract the area of the circles inside of the square from the

area of the square.

400 −314 .1592654 =

85 .8407346

The difference of the two numbers is 85.8407346, so the area contained by the three

circles is 85.8407346.

Case #2

Find the area contained between five circles of radius 10, each of which is externally

tangent to others, as shown.

Solution:

To find the area, begin by drawing the diagram again with the given information put in.

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 Karan Patel

After inputting the information about the radius of 10 into the diagram, use this

information to reconfigure the diagram, making a regular pentagon out of the radii.

20 20

20
20

20

Since the constructed pentagon is made by two radii of 10 on each side, the sides of the

pentagon are all twenty, so the pentagon is regular pentagon. To find the area contained

between the circles, we must find the area of the pentagon. Below is the formula for the

area of a pentagon.

1
A= ( Apothem )( Perimeter )
2

In the above formula, A represents the total area. Now needed is the apothem and

perimeter of the pentagon to find the area. To find the apothem, or a line segment from

the center of a polygon to the midpoint of one of the sides, one could use the equation for

the apothem of a polygon. The equation is shown below.

s
a=
 180 ° 
2 tan  
 n 

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 Karan Patel

In the above equation, a represents the apothem, s represents the length of one side, tan

represents the tangent function of trigonometry, and n represents the number of sides in

the polygon. We can now substitute in the information that we now. Plug in 20 for the

length of one side, and 5 for the number of sides and solve.

20
a= =
180 ° 
2 tan  
 5 
20
a= =
1.453085056
a = 13 .7638192

20 20

20
20 ≈ 13 .8

10 10
Apothem
20

Now, the perimeter is also needed. The formula for perimeter of a pentagon is below.

P = S ( 5)

Now, plug in 20 instead of S, or length of side, to get the perimeter.

P = 20 ( 5)
P = 100

Plug in the apothem and the perimeter to find the area of the pentagon.

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 Karan Patel

1
A= (13 .7638192 )(100 )
2
A = 688 .19096

Since the area of the pentagon is now known, the area of the pieces of circle inside the

pentagon must also be known.

20 20

108

108 108

20
20 108 108

20

Since there are 540º in a Pentagon, and all five angles are equal in a pentagon with

congruent sides, then each angle measures 108º. To find the area of the parts of the

circles that are inside the pentagon, the area of the whole circle must first be found. The

equation for the area of a circle and the area of the circle is below.

Area = Π( radius )2
so
Π(10 ) =
2

Π(100 ) =
314 .1592654

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 Karan Patel

As shown above, the area of each of the circles with a radius of 10 is 314.1592654. Since

108 3
the angles of the pentagon are all 108º, and every circle has 360º, = of each
360 10

3
circle is inside the triangle. Now the area of the circle is needed.
10

3 
 314 .1592654 =
10 
94 .24777962

3
Since there are five circles, multiply the area of the circle by five.
10

94 .24777962 ( 5) =
471 .2388981

Knowing that the area of the circles inside the pentagon is 471.2388981, and that the area

of the pentagon is 688 .19096 , you can subtract the area of the circles inside of the

square from the area of the pentagon.

688 .19096 − 471 .2388981 =

216 .9520619

The difference of the two numbers is 216 .9520619 , so the area contained by the five

circles is 216 .9520619 .

Case #3

Find the area contained between six circles of radius 10, each of which is externally

tangent to two others, as shown.

Solution:

To find the area, begin by drawing the diagram again

with the given information put in.

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 Karan Patel

10 10

10
10

10

After inputting the information about the radius of 10 into the diagram, use this

information to reconfigure the diagram, making a regular hexagon out of the radii, with

sides of 20.

Since the constructed hexagon is made by two radii of 10 on each side, the sides of the

pentagon are all twenty, so the hexagon is regular hexagon. To find the area contained

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 Karan Patel

between the circles, we must find the area of the hexagon. Below is the formula for the

area of a hexagon.

1
A= ( Apothem )( Perimeter )
2

In the above formula, A represents the total area. Now needed is the apothem and

perimeter of the pentagon to find the area. To find the apothem, or a line segment from

the center of a polygon to the midpoint of one of the sides, one could use the equation for

the apothem of a polygon. The equation is shown below.

s
a=
 180 ° 
2 tan  
 n 

In the above equation, a represents the apothem, s represents the length of one side, tan

represents the tangent function of trigonometry, and n represents the number of sides in

the polygon. We can now substitute in the information that we now. Plug in 20 for the

length of one side, and 6 for the number of sides and solve.

20
a= =
 180 ° 
2 tan  
 6 
20
a= =
1.154700538
a = 17 .32050808

20

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 Karan Patel

20 20

20
20

Apothem
20
Now, the perimeter is also needed. The formula for perimeter of a hexagon is below.

P = S ( 6)

Now, substitute in 20 for S, or length of side, to get the perimeter.

P = 20 ( 6 )
P = 120

Substitute in the apothem and the perimeter to find the area of the hexagon.

1
A= (17 .32050808 )(120 )
2
A = 1039 .230485

Since the area of the hexagon is now known, the area of the pieces of circle inside the

hexagon must also be known.

20

20 20
120 120

120 120

120 120
20 20

20

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 Karan Patel

Since there are 720º in a hexagon, and all six angles are equal in a hexagon with

congruent sides, then each angle measures 120º. To find the area of the parts of the

circles that are inside the hexagon, the area of the whole circle must first be found. The

equation for the area of a circle and the area of the circle is below.

Area = Π( radius )2
so
Π(10 ) =
2

Π(100 ) =
314 .1592654

As shown above, the area of each of the circles with a radius of 10 is 314.1592654. Since

120 1
the angles of the hexagon are all 120º, and every circle has 360º, = of each circle
360 3

1
is inside the triangle. Now the area of the circle is needed.
3

1 
 314 .1592654 =
3 
104 .7197551

1
Since there are six circles, multiply the area of the circle by six.
3

104 .7197551 ( 6 ) =
628 .3185308

Knowing that the area of the circles inside the hexagon is 628.3185308, and that the area

of the hexagon is 1039 .230485 , you can subtract the area of the circles inside of the

square from the area of the hexagon.

1039 .230485 − 628 .3185308 =

410 .9119542

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 Karan Patel

The difference of the two numbers is 410.9119542, so the area contained by the six

circles is 410.9119542.

Solving For N

Find the area contained between n circles of radius 10, each of which is externally

tangent to two others.

Solution:

To find the area contained between the circles, you must find the area of the regular

polygon, with sides of 20 (constructed by connecting two radii for each side) that is

formed by connecting the midpoints of the circles to each other and subtract the area of

the circles that rest inside that polygon. First needed is the area of the polygon. Below is

the formula for the area of a regular polygon.

1
A= ( Apothem )( Perimeter )
2

In the above formula, A represents the total area. Now needed is the apothem and

perimeter of the pentagon to find the area. To find the apothem, or a line segment from

the center of a polygon to the midpoint of one of the sides, one could use the equation for

the apothem of a polygon. The equation is shown below.

s
a=
 180 ° 
2 tan  
 n 

In the above equation, a represents the apothem, s represents the length of one side, tan

represents the tangent function of trigonometry, and n represents the number of sides in

the polygon. We can now substitute in the information that we now. Plug in 20 for the

length of one side, and n for the number of sides.

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 Karan Patel

20
a=
 180 ° 
2 tan  
 n 

Now, the perimeter is also needed. The formula for perimeter of a polygon is below.

P = S ( n)

In the above equation, s represents the length of a side of the polygon, and n is the

number of sides in the polygon. Now, plug in 20 instead of S, or length of one side, to

get the perimeter.

P = 20 ( n ) =
P = 20 n

Plug in the apothem and the perimeter to find the area of the hexagon.

 
 
1 20 ( 20 ( n )) =
A=
2 180 °
 2 tan  
  n 
 
 
1 20 ( 20 n )
A=
2 180 °
 2 tan  
  n 

Since the area of the polygon is now known, the area of the pieces of circle inside the

polygon must also be known.

Since there are 180(n-2)º in a polygon, and all angles are equal in a regular polygon with

 180 ( n − 2) 
°

congruent sides, then each angle measures   . To find the area of the parts of
 n 

the circles that are inside the polygon, the area of the whole circle must first be found.

The equation for the area of a circle is below.

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 Karan Patel

Area = Π( radius )2
so
Π(10 ) =
2

Π(100 ) =
314 .1592654

As shown above, the area of each of the circles with a radius of 10 is 314.1592654. Since

 180 ( n − 2 ) 
 180 ( n − 2 ) 
°
 
the angles of the square are all   , and every circle has 360º,  n 
 n 
360

 180 ( n − 2 ) 
 
of each circle is inside the triangle. Now  n  the area of the circle is needed.
360

 180 ( n −2 )  
 
 n  314 .1592654
 360 
 
 

 180 ( n − 2 ) 
 
Since there are n circles, multiply  n  the area of the circle by n.
360

 180 ( n −2 )  
 
 n  (314 .1592654
 
)( n ) =
360
 
 
 180 ( n −2 )  
 
 n  (314 .1592654 n)
 360 
 
 

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 Karan Patel

180 ( n −2 )  
 
 n  (314 .1592654
Knowing that the area of the circles inside the polygon is 
 360 
n)
 
 

   
   
 1  20 ( 20 n ) 
, and that the area of the polygon is  2   , you can subtract the area
  180 °  
   2 tan 
 n 
  
 
  

of the circles inside of the square from the area of the hexagon.

        180( n − 2 )   
       
 1  20  
( 20n ) −   n  ( 314.1592654n ) 
 2  180°        
   2 tan
360
   
   
   n    
    

The area contained between n circles with a radius of 10 is

        180( n − 2 )   
       
 1  20 ( 20n )   −    n  ( 314.1592654n ) 
 2   180°     360  .
   2 tan       
   n    
    

Table #2

# of Are Equation
Circles Contained

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 Karan Patel

That Between
Are Tangent
Tangen Circles
t To
Two
Other
Circles
3 16.125481         180( n − 2 )   
       
 1  20 ( 20( 3) )   −    3  ( 314.1592654( 3) ) 
 2  180°      
   2 tan
360
   
     
   3 
     
4 85.8407346         180( n − 2 )   
       
 1  20   
 ( 20( 4) ) −   4  ( 314.1592654( 4) ) 
 2  180°        
   2 tan
360
   
   
   4  
     
5 216.952061         180( n − 2 )   
9        
 1  20 ( 20( 5) )   −    5  ( 314.1592654( 5) ) 
 2  180°      
   2 tan
360
   
     
   5    
     
6 410.911954         180( n − 2 )   
2        
 1  20  ( 20( 6 ) )   −    6  ( 314.1592654( 6) ) 
 2  180°      
   2 tan
360
   
     
   6 
     
.         180( n − 2 )   
.        
.  1  20 ( 20n )   −    n  ( 314.1592654n ) 
 2  180°      
   2 tan
n 360
   
    
   n    
    

Generalization

In the table above, its shows the number of circles that have two tangent circles next to

them and the area contained by that number of circles. It also shows the area contained

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 Karan Patel

by n circles. The number of circles that are tangent to two other circles is related the area

between the entire tangent circles by the formula that is above. By plugging in the

number of circles for n, you can find the area between any numbers of circles that are

tangent to each other. The areas between different numbers of tangent circles are also

related.

Conclusion

To conclude, the area contained between tangent circles can be found by using the

formula

Area between n tangents circles =

        180( n − 2 )   
       
 1  20  
( 20n ) −   n  ( 314.1592654n ) 
 2  180°        
   2 tan
360
   
   
   n    
    

There is a relationship between the areas contained between different numbers of

tangent circles. As the number of regular polygons (that are connected by the center of

the tangents circles) increases, the area of the polygons as well as area contained between

tangent circles increases. As for the area of the circle, it remains constant.

It doesn’t matter how many congruent circles you have, if they have the same radius their

area will be the same. This is why every case the circles area remains the same. As

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observed from the chart #2, the formula was formed with “a” representing the apothem,

“s” representing the length of one side, “tan” representing the tangent function of

trigonometry, and “n” representing the number of sides in the polygon. These three

variables were used to find the relationship between the tangent circles. The length (the

side of a regular polygon) made from connecting consecutive center of the tangent circles

(trigonometric relationship in apothem). Trigonometry was a big help in solving and

forming the formula for the area contained between tangent circles. Since a tangent only

touches the circle at exactly one and only one point, that point must be perpendicular to a

radius. These are the formulas, relationships and pattern involved in this paper. One

pattern that is shown in this paper is how the regular polygon’s increase number of sides

would affect the increase of area between tangent circles. This problem can relate to real

life through a study of the friction that forms between tangent circles. For example two

tangent circular blades are spinning and they both come into contact, forming friction,

which can be measured. The measure of the friction will be related to the behavior

between the tangent circles in further study.

Bibliography

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 Karan Patel

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/TangentCircles.html

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Circle-CircleTangents.html

http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/emt669/Student.Folders/Kertscher.Jeff/

Essay.3/Tangents.html

http://www.mathreference.com/geo,hex.html

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