How to find the length of a chord

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ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Reasoning › How to find the length of a chord

Questions 1 - 10
1

Secant

Figure NOT drawn to scale

In the above figure, is the center of the circle, and is a tangent to the circle. Also, the circumference of the circle is .

Which is the greater quantity?

(a)

(b) 25

(a) and (b) are equal

(b) is the greater quantity

(a) is the greater quantity

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

Explanation

is a radius of the circle from the center to the point of tangency of , so

,

and is a right triangle. The length of leg is known to be 24. The other leg is a radius radius; we can find its length by dividing the circumference by :

The length hypotenuse, , can be found by applying the Pythagorean Theorem:

.

2

Chords 1

Refer to the above figure. Which is the greater quantity?

(a)

(b) 3

(b) is the greater quantity

(a) and (b) are equal

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(a) is the greater quantity

Explanation

If two chords intersect inside a circle, both chords are cut in a way such that the products of the lengths of the two chords formed in each are the same - in other words,

or

Therefore, .

3

Chords

Figure NOT drawn to scale

In the above diagram, evaluate .

Explanation

If two chords of a circle intersect inside the circle, the product of the lengths of the parts of each chord is the same. In other words,

Solving for :

Simplifying the radical using the Product of Radicals Principle, and noting that the greatest perfect square factor of 96 is 16:

4

Chords 1

Figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above figure. Which is the greater quantity?

(a)

(b) 7

(b) is the greater quantity

(a) and (b) are equal

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(a) is the greater quantity

Explanation

If two chords intersect inside a circle, both chords are cut in a way such that the products of the lengths of the two chords formed in each are the same - in other words,

Solving for :

Since , it follows that , or .

5

Chords 1

Refer to the above figure. Which is the greater quantity?

(a)

(b)

(a) and (b) are equal

(b) is the greater quantity

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(a) is the greater quantity

Explanation

If two chords intersect inside a circle, both chords are cut in a way such that the products of the lengths of the two chords formed in each are the same - in other words,

Divide both sides of this equation by , then cancelling:

The two quantities are equal.

6

Secant

In the above figure, is a tangent to the circle.

Which is the greater quantity?

(a)

(b) 32

(b) is the greater quantity

(a) is the greater quantity

(a) and (b) are equal

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

Explanation

If a secant segment and a tangent segment are constructed to a circle from a point outside it, the square of the distance to the circle along the tangent is equal to the product of the distances to the two points on the circle along the secant; in other words,

Simplifying, then solving for :

To compare to 32, it suffices to compare their squares:

, so, applying the Power of a Product Principle, then substituting,

, so

;

it follows that

.

7

Chords

Figure NOT drawn to scale

In the figure above, evaluate .

Explanation

If two chords of a circle intersect inside the circle, the product of the lengths of the parts of each chord is the same. In other words,

Solving for - distribute:

Subtract from both sides:

Divide both sides by 20:

8

Secant

Figure NOT drawn to scale

In the above figure, is a tangent to the circle.

Which is the greater quantity?

(a)

(b) 8

(a) and (b) are equal

(b) is the greater quantity

(a) is the greater quantity

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

Explanation

If a secant segment and a tangent segment are constructed to a circle from a point outside it, the square of the distance to the circle along the tangent is equal to the product of the distances to the two points on the circle intersected by the secant; in other words,

Simplifying and solving for :

Factoring out :

Either - which is impossible, since must be positive, or

, in which case .

9

Chords

Figure NOT drawn to scale

In the above diagram, evaluate .

Explanation

If two chords of a circle intersect inside the circle, the product of the lengths of the parts of each chord is the same. In other words,

Solving for :

Simplifying the radical using the Product of Radicals Principle, and noting that 25 is the greatest perfect square factor of 50:

10

Secant

In the above figure, is a tangent to the circle.

Evaluate .

Explanation

If a secant segment and a tangent segment are constructed to a circle from a point outside it, the square of the distance to the circle along the tangent is equal to the product of the distances to the two points on the circle along the secant; in other words,

Solving for :

Simplifying the radical using the Product of Radicals Principle, and noting that 36 is the greatest perfect square factor of 360:

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