Question

A circle has a radius of $14.$ Let $\overline{AB}$ be a chord of the circle, such that $AB = 12$. What is the distance between the chord and the center of the circle?

Answer 1

Answer: 4sqrt10

Step-by-step explanation: The Chord is 12 so half the chord is 6 so the base is 6 and the radius is the hypotenuse, which is 14. and the distance is the missing leg.

so 14^2=6^2+x^2

196=36+x^2

sqrt160=x

4sqrt10=x

Answer 2

7.2

Explanation:

The radius of the circle is 14.

The length of the chord is 12.

Half the length of the chord and radius form a right angled triangle as shown in the diagram below.

We need to find one of the sides of the triangle, d in the diagram.

Using Pythagoras rule:

`14^2 = 12^2 + d^2\\\\196 = 144 + d^2\\\\d^2 = 196 - 144 = 52\\\\d = √(52) = 7.2`

The distance between the chord and the center of the circle is 7.2