SOLUTION: Two intersecting circles of radii 10 cm and 17 cm respectively have a common chord of length 16 cm. Find the distance between the centers of the circles.

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Question 940995: Two intersecting circles of radii 10 cm and 17 cm respectively have a common chord of length 16 cm. Find the distance between the centers of the circles.
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20055) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Sorry, I thought the common chord was 8 instead of 16.  You can 
change it for common chord of 16.

AD = 10 cm (radius)
BD = 4 cm (half of common chord which is 8 cm)
AB = sqrt%2810%5E2-4%5E2%29+=sqrt%28100-16%29=sqrt%2884%29=sqrt%284%2A21%29=2sqrt%2821%29 cm

CD = 17 cm (radius)
BD = 4 cm (half of common chord which is 8 cm)
AC = sqrt%2817%5E2-4%5E2%29+=sqrt%28289-16%29=sqrt%28273%29cm

AC = AB+BC = 2sqrt%2821%29%2Bsqrt%28273%29cm = about 25.69 cm.

Edwin