<p>Circum radius of a △ABC is 3 units; let O be the circum centre and H be the orthocentre then the value of \(\frac{1}{64}(AH^2 + BC^2)(BH^2 + AC^2)(CH^2 + AB^2)\) equals:</p>
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept: Use the fundamental relation AH² = 4R²cos²A and similar expressions for BH² and CH², combined with the extended law of sines (a = 2R sin A, etc.) to simplify the product expression.
Step 1: Establish key relations
Let $R$ be the circumradius of $\triangle ABC$. Given $R=3$.
For the orthocenter $H$, the distances from the orthocenter to the vertices are given by:
$$AH = 2R|\cos A| \implies AH^2 = 4R^2 \cos^2 A$$
$$BH = 2R|\cos B| \implies BH^2 = 4R^2 \cos^2 B$$
$$CH = 2R|\cos C| \implies CH^2 = 4R^2 \cos^2 C$$
The side lengths of the triangle are related to the circumradius by the sine rule:
$$BC = a = 2R \sin A \implies BC^2 = 4R^2 \sin^2 A$$
$$AC = b = 2R \sin B \implies AC^2 = 4R^2 \sin^2 B$$
$$AB = c = 2R \sin C \implies AB^2 = 4R^2 \sin^2 C$$
Step 2: Simplify the terms
Substitute the relations from Step 1 into the terms of the expression:
$$AH^2 + BC^2 = 4R^2 \cos^2 A + 4R^2 \sin^2 A = 4R^2 (\cos^2 A + \sin^2 A) = 4R^2$$
Similarly, for the other two terms:
$$BH^2 + AC^2 = 4R^2 \cos^2 B + 4R^2 \sin^2 B = 4R^2 (\cos^2 B + \sin^2 B) = 4R^2$$
$$CH^2 + AB^2 = 4R^2 \cos^2 C + 4R^2 \sin^2 C = 4R^2 (\cos^2 C + \sin^2 C) = 4R^2$$
Step 3: Calculate the product
Multiply the simplified terms:
$$(AH^2 + BC^2)(BH^2 + AC^2)(CH^2 + AB^2) = (4R^2)(4R^2)(4R^2) = (4R^2)^3 = 64R^6$$
Step 4: Evaluate the given expression
Substitute the product into the full expression:
$$\frac{1}{64}(AH^2 + BC^2)(BH^2 + AC^2)(CH^2 + AB^2) = \frac{1}{64} \cdot 64R^6 = R^6$$
Step 5: Substitute R = 3
Given that the circumradius $R = 3$ units:
$$R^6 = 3^6 = 729$$
Correct Answer: a