All ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
Refer to the above figure. Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b) 3
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(a) and (b) are equal
(a) is the greater quantity
(b) is the greater quantity
(b) is the greater quantity
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, .
Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
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
(b) is the greater quantity
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(a) and (b) are equal
(a) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
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:
.
Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
Figure NOT drawn to scale.
Refer to the above figure. Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b) 7
(a) is the greater quantity
(b) is the greater quantity
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(a) and (b) are equal
(b) is the greater quantity
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 .
Example Question #4 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
In the above figure, is a tangent to the circle.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b) 32
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(a) is the greater quantity
(b) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
(b) is the greater quantity
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
.
Example Question #5 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
Figure NOT drawn to scale
In the above figure, is a tangent to the circle.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b) 8
(b) is the greater quantity
(a) is the greater quantity
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(a) and (b) are equal
(a) and (b) are equal
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 .
Example Question #6 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord
Refer to the above figure. Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
(b) is the greater quantity
(a) is the greater quantity
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(a) and (b) are equal
(a) and (b) are equal
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.
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