Chords
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GMAT Quantitative › Chords
The chord of a central angle of a circle with area
has what length?
Explanation
The radius of a circle with area
can be found as follows:
The circle, the central angle, and the chord are shown below:
By way of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, can be proved equilateral, so
, the correct response.
The arc of a circle measures
and has length
. Give the length of the chord
.
Explanation
The figure referenced is below.
The arc is of the circle, so the circumference of the circle is
.
The radius is this circumference divided by , or
.
is, consequently, the hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle with leg length
; by the 45-45-90 Triangle Theorem, its length is
times this, or
Calculate the length of a chord in a circle with a radius of , given that the perpendicular distance from the center to the chord is
.
Explanation
We are given the radius of the circle and the perpendicular distance from its center to the chord, which is all we need to calculate the length of the chord. Using the formula for chord length that involves these two quantities, we find the solution as follows, where is the chord length,
is the perpendicular distance from the center of the circle to the chord, and
is the radius:
Calculate the length of a chord in a circle with a radius of , given that the perpendicular distance from the center to the chord is
.
Explanation
We are given the radius of the circle and the perpendicular distance from its center to the chord, which is all we need to calculate the length of the chord. Using the formula for chord length that involves these two quantities, we find the solution as follows, where is the chord length,
is the perpendicular distance from the center of the circle to the chord, and
is the radius:
The chord of a central angle of a circle with area
has what length?
Explanation
The radius of a circle with area
can be found as follows:
The circle, the central angle, and the chord are shown below:
By way of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, can be proved equilateral, so
, the correct response.
The arc of a circle measures
and has length
. Give the length of the chord
.
Explanation
The figure referenced is below.
The arc is of the circle, so the circumference of the circle is
.
The radius is this circumference divided by , or
.
is, consequently, the hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle with leg length
; by the 45-45-90 Triangle Theorem, its length is
times this, or
The chord of a central angle of a circle with circumference
has what length?
Explanation
A circle with circumference has as its radius
.
The circle, the central angle, and the chord are shown below:
By way of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, can be proved equilateral, so
, the correct response.
The chord of a central angle of a circle with circumference
has what length?
Explanation
A circle with circumference has as its radius
.
The circle, the central angle, and the chord are shown below:
By way of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, can be proved equilateral, so
, the correct response.
Consider the Circle :
(Figure not drawn to scale.)
If is a
angle, what is the measure of segment
?
Explanation
This is a triangle question in disguise. We have a ninety-degree triangle with two sides made up of the radii of the circle. This means the other two angles ( and
) must be
each.
Use the 45/45/90 triangle ratios to find the final side. Additionally, you could use Pythagorean Theorem to find the missing side.
45/45/90 side length ratios:
Segment
Or, using the Pythagorean Theorem, by rearranging it and solving for
, the hypotenuse, which in this case is segment
:
The chord of a central angle of a circle with area
has what length?
Explanation
The radius of a circle with area
can be found as follows:
The circle, the central angle, and the chord are shown below, along with , which bisects isosceles
We concentrate on , a 30-60-90 triangle. By the 30-60-90 Theorem,
and
The chord has length twice this, or