A circle has a chord that goes from #( 5 pi)/6 # to #(7 pi) / 4 # radians on the circle. If the area of the circle is #20 pi #, what is the length of the chord?

1 Answer
Oct 28, 2017

#8.87" to 2 dec. places"#

Explanation:

#"we require to use the "color(blue)"cosine rule"#

#color(red)(bar(ul(|color(white)(2/2)color(black)(a^2=b^2+c^2-(2bc cosA)color(white)(2/2)|)))#

#"we also require the radius of the circe"#

#• " area "=pir^2=20pi#

#rArrr^2=20rArrr=sqrt20=2sqrt5#

#"the angle subtended at the centre of the circle by the chord is"#

#angleA=(7pi)/4-(5pi)/6=(21pi)/12-(10pi)/12=(11pi)/12#

#"we now have a triangle formed by the 2 radii and the chord"#

#"using the "color(blue)"cosine rule"#

#"with "a=" chord ",b" and "c=" radii"#
#"and A the angle between the radii"#

#rArra^2=(2sqrt5)^2+(2sqrt5)^2-(2xx2sqrt5xx2sqrt5xxcos((11pi)/12))#

#color(white)(rArra^2)=20+20-(40xxcos((11pi)/12))#

#color(white)(rArra^2)=78.6370..#

#rArr"length of chord "=sqrt(78.637...)~~8.87#