If circular arcs $AC$ and $BC$ have centers at $B$ and $A$, respectively, then there exists a circle tangent to both $\overarc {AC}$ and $\overarc{BC}$, and to $\overline{AB}$. If the length of $\overarc{BC}$ is $12$, then the circumference of the circle is

$\textbf {(A)}\ 24 \qquad \textbf {(B)}\ 25 \qquad \textbf {(C)}\ 26 \qquad \textbf {(D)}\ 27 \qquad \textbf {(E)}\ 28$
Solution 1
[2000 12 AMC-24a.png](https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/File:2000_12_AMC-24a.png)
Since $AB,BC,AC$ are all [radii](https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Radius), it follows that $\triangle ABC$ is an [equilateral triangle](https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Equilateral_triangle). 
Draw the circle with center $A$ and radius $\overline{AB}$. Then let $D$ be the point of tangency of the two circles, and $E$ be the intersection of the smaller circle and $\overline{AD}$. Let $F$ be the intersection of the smaller circle and $\overline{AB}$. Also define the radii $r_1 = AB, r_2 = \frac{DE}{2}$ (note that $DE$ is a diameter of the smaller circle, as $D$ is the point of tangency of both circles, the radii of a circle is perpendicular to the tangent, hence the two centers of the circle are collinear with each other and $D$).
By the [Power of a Point Theorem](https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Power_of_a_Point_Theorem), 
\[AF^2 = AE \cdot AD \Longrightarrow \left(\frac {r_1}2\right)^2 = (AD - 2r_2) \cdot AD.\]
Since $AD = r_1$, then $\frac{r_1^2}{4} = r_1 (r_1 - 2r_2) \Longrightarrow r_2 = \frac{3r_1}{8}$. Since $ABC$ is equilateral, $\angle BAC = 60^{\circ}$, and so $\stackrel{\frown}{BC} = 12 = \frac{60}{360} 2\pi r_1 \Longrightarrow r_1 = \frac{36}{\pi}$. Thus $r_2 = \frac{27}{2\pi}$ and the circumference of the circle is $27\ \mathrm{(D)}$.
(Alternatively, the [Pythagorean Theorem](https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Pythagorean_Theorem) can also be used to find $r_2$ in terms of $r_1$. Notice that since AB is tangent to circle $O$, $\overline{OF}$ is perpendicular to $\overline{AF}$. Therefore, 
\[AF^2 + OF^2 = AO^2\]
\[\left(\frac {r_1}{2}\right)^2 + r_2^2 = (r_1 - r_2)^2\]
After simplification, $r_2 = \frac{3r_1}{8}$.

Solution 2 (Pythagorean Theorem)
First, note the triangle $ABC$ is equilateral. Next, notice that since the arc $BC$ has length 12, it follows that we can find the radius of the sector centered at $A$. $\frac {1}{6}({2}{\pi})AB=12 \implies AB=36/{\pi}$. Next, connect the center of the circle to side $AB$, and call this length $r$, and call the foot $M$. Since $ABC$ is equilateral, it follows that $MB=18/{\pi}$, and $OA$ (where O is the center of the circle) is $36/{\pi}-r$.  By the Pythagorean Theorem, you get $r^2+(18/{\pi})^2=(36/{\pi}-r)^2 \implies r=27/2{\pi}$. Finally, we see that the circumference is $2{\pi}\cdot 27/2{\pi}=\boxed{(D)27}$.