Two circles have the following equations (x -1 )^2+(y -7 )^2= 25 and (x +3 )^2+(y +3 )^2= 49 . Does one circle contain the other? If not, what is the greatest possible distance between a point on one circle and another point on the other?

1 Answer
Dec 1, 2016

The farthest possible distance between two points, one on each circle, is the sum of the two radii and the distance between the centers: 12 + sqrt(116) ~~ 22.77

Explanation:

The first circle has a center at (1,7) the radius is 5
The second circle has a center at (-3,-3) the radius is 7

The distance, d, between their centers is:

d = sqrt((1 - -3)^2 + (7 - -3)^2)

d = sqrt(4^2 + 10^2)

d = sqrt(116)

The circle partially overlap but the larger does not contain the smaller. Please see the drawing:

![Desmos.com](useruploads.socratic.org)

The farthest possible distance between two points, one on each circle, is the sum of the two radii and the distance between the centers: 12 + sqrt(116) ~~ 22.77