ISEE Upper Level Math : How to find the length of a chord

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord

Which equation is the formula for chord length?

Note: \(\displaystyle r\) is the radius of the circle, and \(\displaystyle C\)  is the angle cut by the chord.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2rsinC\)

\(\displaystyle 2rsin(\frac{C}{2})\)

\(\displaystyle rsinC\)

\(\displaystyle 4rsin(\frac{C}{2})\)

\(\displaystyle rsin(\frac{C}{2})\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2rsin(\frac{C}{2})\)

Explanation:

The length of a chord of a circle is calculated as follows:

 Chord length =  \(\displaystyle 2rsin(\frac{C}{2})\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord

The radius of a circle is \(\displaystyle 5\ cm\), and the perpendicular distance from a chord to the circle center is \(\displaystyle 4\ cm\).  Give the chord length.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 8\ cm\)

\(\displaystyle 7.5\ cm\)

\(\displaystyle 6\ cm\)

\(\displaystyle 7\ cm\)

\(\displaystyle 6.5\ cm\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6\ cm\)

Explanation:

Chord length = \(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{r^2-d^2}\), where \(\displaystyle r\)  is the radius of the circle and \(\displaystyle d\)  is the perpendicular distance from the chord to the circle center.

Chord length =  \(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{r^2-d^2}=2\sqrt{5^2-4^2}\)

\(\displaystyle =2\sqrt{25-16}=2\sqrt{9}=2\times 3\)

 \(\displaystyle \Rightarrow\) Chord length = \(\displaystyle 6\ cm\)

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord

In the circle below, the radius is \(\displaystyle 5\ cm\) and the chord length is \(\displaystyle 8\ cm\). Give the perpendicular distance from the chord to the circle center (d).

 

Chord

 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4.5\ cm\)

\(\displaystyle 4.7\ cm\)

\(\displaystyle 3\ cm\)

 

\(\displaystyle 5\ cm\)

\(\displaystyle 3.5\ cm\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3\ cm\)

 

Explanation:

Chord length = \(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{r^2-d^2}\), where \(\displaystyle r\)  is the radius of the circle and \(\displaystyle d\)  is the perpendicular distance from the chord to the circle center.

 

Chord length =  \(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{r^2-d^2}\Rightarrow 8=2\sqrt{5^2-d^2}\Rightarrow 4=\sqrt{5^2-d^2}\)

\(\displaystyle \Rightarrow 16=25-d^2\Rightarrow d^2=25-16=9\)

\(\displaystyle \Rightarrow d=3\ cm\)

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord

Give the length of the chord of a \(\displaystyle 90^{\circ }\) central angle of a circle with radius 18.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 18\sqrt{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 9\sqrt{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 9\sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 18\sqrt{3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 18\sqrt{2}\)

Explanation:

The figure below shows \(\displaystyle \angle AOB\), which matches this description, along with its chord \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\):

Chord

By way of the Isoscelese Triangle Theorem, \(\displaystyle \Delta AOB\) can be proved a 45-45-90 triangle with legs of length 18, so its hypotenuse - the desired chord length \(\displaystyle AB\) - is \(\displaystyle \sqrt{2}\) times this, or \(\displaystyle 18\sqrt{2}\).

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord

\(\displaystyle 60^{\circ}\) central angle of a circle intercepts an arc of length \(\displaystyle 7 \pi\); it also has a chord. What is the length of that chord?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{21\sqrt{2}}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 7\sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 21\)

\(\displaystyle 14\sqrt{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 14\sqrt{3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 21\)

Explanation:

The arc intercepted by a \(\displaystyle 60^{\circ}\) central angle is \(\displaystyle \frac{60}{360}= \frac{1}{6}\) of the circle, so the circumference of the circle is \(\displaystyle 7 \pi \cdot 6 = 42\pi\). The radius is the circumference divided by \(\displaystyle 2 \pi\), or \(\displaystyle 42 \pi \div 2 \pi = 21\)

The figure below shows a \(\displaystyle 60^{\circ}\) central angle \(\displaystyle \angle AOB\), along with its chord \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\):

Chord

By way of the Isoscelese Triangle Theorem, \(\displaystyle \Delta AOB\) can be proved equilateral, so \(\displaystyle AB = OA = 21\).

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord

\(\displaystyle 120^{\circ }\) central angle of a circle intercepts an arc of length \(\displaystyle \frac{4 \pi}{3}\); it also has a chord. What is the length of that chord?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2 \sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{3}\)

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

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2 \sqrt{3}\)

Explanation:

The arc intercepted by a \(\displaystyle 120^{\circ}\) central angle is \(\displaystyle \frac{120}{360}= \frac{1}{3}\) of the circle, so the circumference of the circle is \(\displaystyle \frac{4 \pi}{3}\cdot 3= 4\pi\). The radius is the circumference divided by \(\displaystyle 2 \pi\), or \(\displaystyle 4\pi \div 2 \pi = 2\)

The figure below shows a \(\displaystyle 120^{\circ}\) central angle \(\displaystyle \angle AOB\), along with its chord \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\)and triangle bisector \(\displaystyle \overline{OM}\)

Chord

We will concentrate on \(\displaystyle \Delta AOM\), which is a 30-60-90 triangle. By the 30-60-90 Theorem, 

\(\displaystyle OM = \frac{1}{2} AO = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 2 = 1\)

and

\(\displaystyle AM = OM \cdot \sqrt{3}= 1\sqrt{3}= \sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle M\) is the midpoint of \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\), so

\(\displaystyle AB = 2 \cdot AM = 2 \sqrt{3}\)

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord

Give the length of the chord of a \(\displaystyle 60^{\circ }\) central angle of a circle with radius 20.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10\sqrt{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 10\sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 20\sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 20\sqrt{2}\)

The correct answer is not among the other choices.

Correct answer:

The correct answer is not among the other choices.

Explanation:

The figure below shows \(\displaystyle \angle AOB\), which matches this description, along with its chord \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\):

Chord

By way of the Isosceles Triangle Theorem, \(\displaystyle \Delta AOB\) can be proved equilateral, so \(\displaystyle AB = OA = 20\).

This answer is not among the choices given.

Example Question #153 : Plane Geometry

Give the length of the chord of a \(\displaystyle 120^{\circ }\) central angle of a circle with radius \(\displaystyle 12\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 12 \sqrt{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 18 \sqrt{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 12 \sqrt{3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12 \sqrt{3}\)

Explanation:

The figure below shows \(\displaystyle \angle AOB\), which matches this description, along with its chord \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\) and triangle bisector \(\displaystyle \overline{OM}\)

Chord

We will concentrate on \(\displaystyle \Delta AOM\), which is a 30-60-90 triangle. By the 30-60-90 Theorem, 

\(\displaystyle OM = \frac{1}{2} AO = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 12 = 6\)

and

\(\displaystyle AM = OM \cdot \sqrt{3}= 6\sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle M\) is the midpoint of \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\), so

\(\displaystyle AB = 2 \cdot AM = 2 \cdot 6 \sqrt{3}= 12 \sqrt{3}\)

Example Question #5 : Chords

Chords

Figure NOT drawn to scale

In the figure above, evaluate \(\displaystyle t\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle t = 18\)

\(\displaystyle t= 12\)

\(\displaystyle t= 20\)

\(\displaystyle t = 16\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle t= 12\)

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,

\(\displaystyle 40 t = 20 (t+12)\)

Solving for \(\displaystyle t\) - distribute:

\(\displaystyle 40 t = 20 (t+12)\)

\(\displaystyle 40 t = 20 t+ 20 \cdot 12\)

\(\displaystyle 40 t = 20 t+ 240\)

Subtract \(\displaystyle 20t\) from both sides:

\(\displaystyle 40 t- 20 t = 20 t+ 240 - 20 t\)

\(\displaystyle 20 t = 240\)

Divide both sides by 20:

\(\displaystyle 20 t \div 20 = 240 \div 20\)

\(\displaystyle t = 12\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Chord

Secant

In the above figure, \(\displaystyle \overline{NT}\) is a tangent to the circle.

Evaluate \(\displaystyle t\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 6 \sqrt{10}\)

\(\displaystyle 6\sqrt{6}\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6 \sqrt{10}\)

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,

\(\displaystyle t^{2} = 12 \cdot (12+ 18) = 12 \cdot 30 = 360\)

Solving for \(\displaystyle t\):

\(\displaystyle t^{2} = 360\)

\(\displaystyle t = \sqrt{360}\)

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

\(\displaystyle t = \sqrt{36} \cdot \sqrt{10} = 6 \sqrt{10}\)

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