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#1 2007-05-26 05:48:34

gilligan
Member
Registered: 2007-05-26
Posts: 1

Solving for radius, given chord length and altitude

need help with the formula to determine the radius of a circle if the chord length and altitude from the chord to the point perpendicular to the circumfrence is known

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#2 2007-05-26 06:46:47

Identity
Member
Registered: 2007-04-18
Posts: 934

Re: Solving for radius, given chord length and altitude

Is this kinda what you mean?

a = Chord length
b = Distance from Midpoint of chord to Centre
r = Radius

By Pythagoras:

Hence,

Last edited by Identity (2007-05-26 06:49:13)

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#3 2007-05-26 07:15:34

mathsyperson
Moderator
Registered: 2005-06-22
Posts: 4,900

Re: Solving for radius, given chord length and altitude

I interpreted it like in my diagram.

If that's the case, then the length from the chord to the centre is r-b, and so you have:

Therefore,




Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

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