Basic Geometry : Diameter

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Basic Geometry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Diameter

Give the diameter of a circle whose circumference is \(\displaystyle 36 \pi\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 36\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 36\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle C = \pi d\)

\(\displaystyle 36 \pi = \pi d\)

\(\displaystyle d = 36\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Diameter

The perimeter of a circle is 36 π.  What is the diameter of the circle?

Possible Answers:

18

6

36

3

72

Correct answer:

36

Explanation:

The perimeter of a circle = 2 πr = πd

Therefore d = 36

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of The Diameter

Two circles have only one point in common. Both circles have radii of \(\displaystyle 6\). If point \(\displaystyle X\) is on the first circle and point \(\displaystyle Y\) is on the second circle, what is longest possible distance of line \(\displaystyle XY\)?

Possible Answers:

24

6

12

18

20

Correct answer:

24

Explanation:

Circle

The first step is to sketch two circles touching at a single point. In order to maximize the length of \(\displaystyle XY\), the point \(\displaystyle X\) and the point \(\displaystyle Y\) would need to be on opposite ends, as shown in the diagram. If the radius of a circle is \(\displaystyle 6\), then the diameter would be \(\displaystyle 2r = 2(6) = 12\). Therefore, the length of \(\displaystyle XY\) would be \(\displaystyle 2d = 2(12) = 24\).

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Diameter

Circle_line_identity

What is the name of the segment in green?

Possible Answers:

Ray

Radius

Diagonal

Chord

Diameter

Correct answer:

Diameter

Explanation:

The diameter is the maximum distance between two points on a circle's perimeter. The diameter passes through the circle's center.

Example Question #1 : Diameter

The area of a circle is \(\displaystyle 9\pi \; in^{2}\).  What is its diameter?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 6\; in\)

\(\displaystyle 15\; in\)

\(\displaystyle 12\; in\)

\(\displaystyle 9\; in\)

\(\displaystyle 3\; in\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6\; in\)

Explanation:

First solve for the radius:

\(\displaystyle A=\pi r^{2} = 9\pi\) 

\(\displaystyle r = 3 \; in\)  

Note that \(\displaystyle d = 2r\), where \(\displaystyle r\) is the radius and \(\displaystyle d\) is the diameter. 

Therefore, \(\displaystyle d = 6\; in\).

Example Question #2 : Diameter

A circle has an area of \(\displaystyle 60\pi\)\(\displaystyle cm^2\). What is the circle's diameter?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 60\)\(\displaystyle cm\)

\(\displaystyle 30\)\(\displaystyle cm\)

\(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{15}\pi\)  \(\displaystyle cm\)

\(\displaystyle 4\sqrt{15}\)  \(\displaystyle cm\)

 

\(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{15}\)  \(\displaystyle cm\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 4\sqrt{15}\)  \(\displaystyle cm\)

 

Explanation:

The area of a circle is given by the equation \(\displaystyle A = \pi r^2\), where \(\displaystyle A\) is the area and \(\displaystyle r\) is the radius. Use the given area in this equation and solve for \(\displaystyle r\) to find the circle's radius.

\(\displaystyle 60\pi = \pi r^2\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{(60\pi)}{\pi} = \frac{(\pi r^2)}{\pi}\)

\(\displaystyle 60 = r^2\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{60} = \sqrt{r^2}\)

\(\displaystyle r = \sqrt{60} = 2\sqrt{15}\)

To find the circle's diameter, multiply its radius by \(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{15} * 2 = 4\sqrt{15}\)\(\displaystyle cm\)

Example Question #3 : Diameter

A circle has a radius of 7 inches. What is the diameter of the circle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 17\) inches

\(\displaystyle 20\) inches

\(\displaystyle 12\) inches

\(\displaystyle 14\) inches

\(\displaystyle 10\) inches

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 14\) inches

Explanation:

The diameter of a circle can be written as \(\displaystyle d=2r\), where \(\displaystyle r\) is the radius and \(\displaystyle d\) is the diameter. 

\(\displaystyle (7) 2 = 14\)

Therefore the diameter of the circle is 14 inches.

Example Question #1 : Diameter

Two legs of a right triangle measure 3 and 4, respectively. What is the area of the circle that circumscribes the triangle? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 6.25\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 12.5\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 5\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 25\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 6\pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6.25\pi\)

Explanation:

For the circle to contain all 3 vertices, the hypotenuse must be the diameter of the circle. The hypotenuse, and therefore the diameter, is 5, since this must be a 3-4-5 right triangle.

The equation for the area of a circle is A = πr2.

\(\displaystyle A=\pi (5/2)^2=6.25\pi\)

Example Question #3 : Diameter

If the area of a circle is \(\displaystyle 9\pi\), what is its diameter?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6\)

Explanation:

Before we can find the diameter of this circle, we need to find its radius. We need to use the formula for the area of a cirlce:

\(\displaystyle A=\pi r^2\)

Given that the area is \(\displaystyle 9\pi\), we can find the radius

\(\displaystyle 9\pi=\pi r^2\)

cancel the pi and then square root it to find 'r'.

\(\displaystyle 9=r^2\)

\(\displaystyle 3=r\)

Now that the radius is found, we can find the diamater by multiplying it by 2.

\(\displaystyle D=2r=2(3)=6\)

Example Question #6 : How To Find The Length Of The Diameter

Find the diameter of a circle that has an area of \(\displaystyle 144\pi\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 24\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 144\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 24\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 24\)

Explanation:

Recall how to find the area of a circle:

\(\displaystyle \text{Area}=\pi\times\text{radius}^2\)

Next, plug in the information given by the question.

\(\displaystyle 144\pi=\pi\times\text{radius}^2\)

From this, we can see that we can solve for the radius.

\(\displaystyle \text{radius}^2=144\)

\(\displaystyle \text{radius}=\sqrt{144}=12\)

Now recall the relationship between the radius and the diameter.

\(\displaystyle \text{diameter}=2\times\text{radius}\)

Plug in the value of the radius to find the diameter.

\(\displaystyle \text{diameter}=2\times 12 = 24\)

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