In the right triangle, an altitude is drawn from the right angle to the hypotenuse. Circles are inscribed within each of the smaller triangles. What is the distance between the centers of these circles?
The hypotenuse = 25
The altitude length is product of the legs /hypotenuse = 15 *20 / 25 = 12
The other leg of the right triangle in the upper left of the figure is 9
So...the area of this triangle = (1/2) (product of the legs) (1/2(9 *12) = 54
And we can find the radius, R, of the inscribed circle as follows
54 = (1/2) ( 9 + 12 + 15) R
54 = 18 R
R = 3
Similarly the larger right triangle is a 12 - 16 - 20 right triangle
Its area = (1/2) (12 * 16) = 96
And we can find the radius, R, of the inscribed circle in this triangle as
96= (1/2) (12 + 16 + 20 ) R
96 = 24 R
R = 4
The distance between the centers = 3 + 4 = 7
INCORRECT>>>>>SEE JUGOSLAV'S ANSWER BELOW....