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Relating Chord Length to Center Distance

Observe how the length of a chord relates to its distance from the center of a circle.

Task 1

Putting It All Together

Answer these open ended questions on your own or with others to form deeper math connections.

Task 2

Based on your observations, what can you say about the distances from congruent chords to the center of the circle?

Task 3

Based on your observations, what can you say about the lengths of chords that are equidistant from the center of the circle?

Task 4

Using the ‘show radii’ option, what type of triangles are formed?

Task 5

Which congruence criteria (SSS, SAS, HL) proves these triangles are congruent?

Task 6

How does this triangle congruence prove your observations?

Task 7

As you make a chord longer, does its distance from the center increase or decrease?