All ISEE Upper Level Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
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 =Â
 Chord length =Â
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
In the circle below, the radius is and the chord length is
. Give the perpendicular distance from the chord to the circle center (d).
Â
Â
Â
Â
Chord length = , where
 is the radius of the circle and
 is the perpendicular distance from the chord to the circle center.
Â
Chord length =Â Â
Example Question #1 : Chords
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 chordÂ
:
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 lengthÂ
 - isÂ
 times this, orÂ
.
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
AÂ Â central angle of a circle intercepts an arc of lengthÂ
; it also has a chord. What is the length of that chord?
The arc intercepted by a  central angle isÂ
 of the circle, so the circumference of the circle isÂ
. The radius is the circumference divided byÂ
, orÂ
.Â
The figure below shows a  central angleÂ
, along with its chordÂ
:
By way of the Isoscelese Triangle Theorem,  can be proved equilateral, soÂ
.
Example Question #1 : Chords
AÂ Â central angle of a circle intercepts an arc of lengthÂ
; it also has a chord. What is the length of that chord?
The arc intercepted by a  central angle isÂ
 of the circle, so the circumference of the circle isÂ
. The radius is the circumference divided byÂ
, orÂ
.Â
The figure below shows a  central angleÂ
, along with its chordÂ
and triangle bisectorÂ
.Â
We will concentrate on , which is a 30-60-90 triangle. By the 30-60-90 Theorem,Â
and
 is the midpoint ofÂ
, so
Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
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 chordÂ
:
By way of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem,  can be proved equilateral, soÂ
.
This answer is not among the choices given.
Example Question #2 : Chords
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 chordÂ
 and triangle bisectorÂ
.Â
We will concentrate on , which is a 30-60-90 triangle. By the 30-60-90 Theorem,Â
and
 is the midpoint ofÂ
, so
Example Question #5 : Chords
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 #1 : Chords
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:
Example Question #153 : Plane Geometry
Figure NOT drawn to scale
In the above diagram, 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 :
Simplifying the radical using the Product of Radicals Principle, and noting that 25Â is the greatest perfect square factor of 50:
All ISEE Upper Level Math Resources
