Question #0994c

1 Answer
Nov 7, 2017

r = 625/48" cm"

Explanation:

Orient the triangle so that BC, is on the x axis, point B is (-7,0), and point C is (7,0); this makes the y axis the perpendicular bisector of chord BC at the origin O = (0,0). Because the y axis forms a right triangle, DeltaOAC, with side AC as the hypotenuse, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the coordinates of point A:

AC^2= OC^2 + OA^2

25^2= 7^2+ OA^2

OA = sqrt(625 - 49)

OA = 24

The coordinates of point A = (0,24)

Here is a graph of what I have described thus far:

![www.desmos.com/calculator](useruploads.socratic.org)

Please observe that, the points A, B, and C are in black, the sides of DeltaABC are in green, and the perpendicular bisector of side BC is in purple.

The slope of the line AC is the slope from point C= (7,0) to point A = (0,24):

m = (24-0)/(0-7)

m = -24/7

The slope, n, of its perpendicular bisector is:

n = -1/m

n = -1/(-24/7)

n = 7/24

The perpendicular bisector will go through the midpoint between A and C:

((0+7)/2, (24+0)/2) = (3.5,12)

The point-slope form of the equation of the perpendicular bisector is:

y = 7/24(x - 3.5)+12

Here is a graph of the triangle with the perpendicular bisector:

![www.desmos.com/calculator](useruploads.socratic.org)

The center of the circle is the point where this line intercepts the y axis:

y = 7/24(0 - 3.5)+12

y = 527/48

The radius of the circle is the distance from the y intercept to point A

r = 24 - 527/48

r = 625/48" cm"

Here is a graph with the circle added.

![www.desmos.com/calculator](useruploads.socratic.org)