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| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
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Question from Don: two parallel chords of a circle AB and CD on the same side from the center measure 6cm and 11 cm respectively. The distance between the 2 chords is 3 cm. Find the radius |
Hi Don,
Here is my diagram but I changed the labeling.
C is the centre of the circle. Triangles ABC and EDC are both right triangles. Suppose the distance from C to D is $x$ and the radius of the circle is $r.$ You know the lengths of AB, ED and BD.
Use Pythagoras' theorem and the triangle EDC to find an expression for $r^2$. Use Pythagoras' theorem and the triangle ABD to find another expression for $r^2$. Set theses expression equal to each other and solve for $x.$
Penny
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