All ISEE Upper Level Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
Which equation is the formula for chord length?
Note: is the radius of the circle, and is the angle cut by the chord.
The length of a chord of a circle is calculated as follows:
Chord length =
Example Question #151 : Plane Geometry
The radius of a circle is , and the perpendicular distance from a chord to the circle center is . Give the chord length.
Chord length = , where is the radius of the circle and is the perpendicular distance from the chord to the circle center.
Chord length =
Chord length =
Example Question #152 : Plane Geometry
In the circle below, the radius is and the chord length is . Give the perpendicular distance from the chord to the circle center (d).
Chord length = , where is the radius of the circle and is the perpendicular distance from the chord to the circle center.
Chord length =
Example Question #153 : Plane Geometry
Give the length of the chord of a central angle of a circle with radius 18.
The figure below shows , which matches this description, along with its chord :
By way of the Isoscelese Triangle Theorem, can be proved a 45-45-90 triangle with legs of length 18, so its hypotenuse - the desired chord length - is times this, or .
Example Question #151 : Plane Geometry
A central angle of a circle intercepts an arc of length ; it also has a chord. What is the length of that chord?
The arc intercepted by a central angle is of the circle, so the circumference of the circle is . The radius is the circumference divided by , or .
The figure below shows a central angle , along with its chord :
By way of the Isoscelese Triangle Theorem, can be proved equilateral, so .
Example Question #154 : Plane Geometry
A central angle of a circle intercepts an arc of length ; it also has a chord. What is the length of that chord?
The arc intercepted by a central angle is of the circle, so the circumference of the circle is . The radius is the circumference divided by , or .
The figure below shows a central angle , along with its chord and triangle bisector .
We will concentrate on , which is a 30-60-90 triangle. By the 30-60-90 Theorem,
and
is the midpoint of , so
Example Question #152 : Plane Geometry
Give the length of the chord of a central angle of a circle with radius 20.
The correct answer is not among the other choices.
The correct answer is not among the other choices.
The figure below shows , which matches this description, along with its chord :
By way of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, can be proved equilateral, so .
This answer is not among the choices given.
Example Question #153 : Plane Geometry
Give the length of the chord of a central angle of a circle with radius .
The figure below shows , which matches this description, along with its chord and triangle bisector .
We will concentrate on , which is a 30-60-90 triangle. By the 30-60-90 Theorem,
and
is the midpoint of , so
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
Figure NOT drawn to scale
In the figure above, evaluate .
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:
Example Question #6 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
In the above figure, is a tangent to the circle.
Evaluate .
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: