Thread: The distance from centre to chord

the equation of a circle with centre O(0,0) is x^2+y^2=10
the points P(1,3) and Q(-3,-1) are endpoints of chord PQ. Find the exact dictance from the centre of the cirlce ot the chord

ineed helpp!
this was hw btu our teacher never explained it

Originally Posted by ahmads121

the equation of a circle with centre O(0,0) is x^2+y^2=10
the points P(1,3) and Q(-3,-1) are endpoints of chord PQ. Find the exact dictance from the centre of the cirlce ot the chord

ineed helpp!
this was hw btu our teacher never explained it

Your question cannot be answered unless you specify where from the chord you want to calculate the distance from. Do you want the perpendicular distance?

Originally Posted by mr fantastic

Your question cannot be answered unless you specify where from the chord you want to calculate the distance from. Do you want the perpendicular distance?

yesss the perpindicular distance!
thnxx

Originally Posted by ahmads121

yesss the perpindicular distance!
thnxx

Note that by symmetry, a line drawn from the midpoint of the chord to the centre of the circle is perpendicular to the chord ....

Originally Posted by mr fantastic

Note that by symmetry, a line drawn from the midpoint of the chord to the centre of the circle is perpendicular to the chord ....

kaii never mind yur loosing me now confusing me

Originally Posted by ahmads121

kaii never mind yur loosing me now confusing me

Do you know how to find the midpoint of a line segment drawn between two given points?

Do you know how to find the distance between two points?

Do you understand why a line from a chord to the centre of a circle is perpendicular to the chord?

If you do not understand these things then you do not have the background knowledge necessary to answer the question you posted, in which case you need to go back and review the relevant material.


Edit: All this stuff was addressed nearly two weeks ago in this thread: http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-he...tor-chord.html. You're expected to have learned something from all the help you got there.

Originally Posted by mr fantastic

Do you know how to find the midpoint of a line segment drawn between two given points?

Do you know how to find the distance between two points?

Do you understand why a line from a chord to the centre of a circle is perpendicular to the chord?

If you do not understand these things then you do not have the background knowledge necessary to answer the question you posted, in which case you need to go back and review the relevant material.


Edit: All this stuff was addressed nearly two weeks ago in this thread: http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-he...tor-chord.html. You're expected to have learned something from all the help you got there.

I can all do all that but this is a different question ineed the shortest distance

Originally Posted by ahmads121

I can all do all that but this is a different question ineed the shortest distance

The shortest distance is the perpendicular distance. This is evident from symmetry.