Relating Chord Length to Center Distance
Observe how the length of a chord relates to its distance from the center of a circle.
Tâche 1
Putting It All Together
Answer these open ended questions on your own or with others to form deeper math connections.
Tâche 2
Based on your observations, what can you say about the distances from congruent chords to the center of the circle?
Tâche 3
Based on your observations, what can you say about the lengths of chords that are equidistant from the center of the circle?
Tâche 4
Using the ‘show radii’ option, what type of triangles are formed?
Tâche 5
Which congruence criteria (SSS, SAS, HL) proves these triangles are congruent?
Tâche 6
How does this triangle congruence prove your observations?
Tâche 7
As you make a chord longer, does its distance from the center increase or decrease?