the math question...

First of all, I think the rigors of the education system has prevented many of us from seeing how simple a problem can be. And this problem was so much of a problem that it warrants a space on my blog to be remembered forever and ever till blogger dies. And I credit the Youthphoria kids for solving it.

AC = EC = 18m
Line AC, EC and BD are tangent to the circle with centre O.
Find the perimeter of triangle BCD.

Think about it.

Since AB and BM are tangents to the circle, AB = BM = x m
Since ED and DM are tangents to the circle, ED = DM = x m

Therefore, perimeter of

triangle BCD = BC + DC + BD
= (18 – x) + (18 – x) + 2x
= 18 – x + 18 – x + 2x
= 36 m