Calculating the Length of a Segment Joining Centers of Inscribed Circles

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the length of the segment that joins the centers of inscribed circles of two adjacent squares with areas of 4 cm² and 196 cm². The discussion centers around geometric relationships and properties of squares and circles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore various methods to calculate the segment length, including using the properties of right triangles and the relationship between the squares' dimensions and their inscribed circles. Some question the assumptions about the configuration of the squares and the placement of the circles.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes multiple interpretations of the problem, with participants offering different methods and reasoning. Some guidance has been provided, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or answer, as differing opinions on the calculations and assumptions persist.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential confusion regarding the geometric arrangement of the squares and the inscribed circles, as well as the implications of using different methods to arrive at the segment length. There is also mention of the impact of timing on reasoning, suggesting that fatigue may affect problem-solving clarity.

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The Area Of These 2 Adjacent Squares Are 4 cm^2 and 196 cm^2.

Find The Length Of The Segment Joining The Centers Of Their Inscribed Circled
 

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it's the square root of four plus the square root of 196 and all that over two
 
does anyone agree/disagree?
 
I disagree.

Hint: Construct a right-angled triangle with the connecting segment as its hyp
 
tell me step by step...
 
It will be the hypotenuse of a triangle whose sides are (14-2)/2 and (14+2)/2.
 
Last edited:
make a triangle using the line as the hypotenuse

side 1:

Get the radius of the big circle and subtract the radius of the small circle. Giving you 7 - 1 = 6

side 2:

Get the radius of the big and the small circle.
Giving you 7 + 1 = 8

Hopefully you can solve the problem now.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
let me see ..
draw two lines, one from each center perpendicular to the bottom side (as in the figure ) Then draw a line parallel to the bottom line through the center of the smaller circle.. Then u will see a
right angled triangle formed with hypotenuse being the line connecting the two centers ...
u can now very easiy find the length of thwo sides and hence that of the hypotenuse ..

answer = sqrt (6^2+8^2) = 10
 
youre making it all more complicated, the center of an inscribed circle is righ in the center of the square so the distance from the center to one side is the half of what the whole length of the square is so you need to square root the areas given to find the lengths divide each length by two, and add them together, the answer should be nine
 
  • #10
theriddler876 said:
youre making it all more complicated, the center of an inscribed circle is righ in the center of the square so the distance from the center to one side is the half of what the whole length of the square is so you need to square root the areas given to find the lengths divide each length by two, and add them together, the answer should be nine

That's simple alright! It just suffers from the minor problem of being wrong.

It would be correct IF the line through the denters were parallel to the sides- but that's not true.
 
  • #11
hmnn so the squares make more of a stairstep and not a pyramid.
 
  • #12
What pyramid??This is plane geometry...
My answer is
[tex]d=\sqrt{106}[/tex]
The question is:"how did I get that??"

Daniel.
 
  • #13
mahesh_2961 said:
let me see ..
draw two lines, one from each center perpendicular to the bottom side (as in the figure ) Then draw a line parallel to the bottom line through the center of the smaller circle.. Then u will see a
right angled triangle formed with hypotenuse being the line connecting the two centers ...
u can now very easiy find the length of thwo sides and hence that of the hypotenuse ..

answer = sqrt (6^2+8^2) = 10

Good method,bad answer.

theriddler876 said:
youre making it all more complicated, the center of an inscribed circle is righ in the center of the square so the distance from the center to one side is the half of what the whole length of the square is so you need to square root the areas given to find the lengths divide each length by two, and add them together, the answer should be nine

1.Wrong answer,wrong method.
2.There's more common the expression "perimeter of a square".Similar,the"circumference of a circle".

Daniel.
 
  • #14
dextercioby said:
Good method,bad answer...

Daniel.
No your answer was wrong... Mahesh's was the right one.

Here's where you went wrong:

106 = 9^2 + 5^2

wrong numbers. You forgot that the radius of the smaller circle is only 1 not 2.
Thus 7-1 = 6 not 7-2.

As well 7+1 = 8 not 7+2.

I agree with Mahesh's answer...
 
  • #15
Yeah,you're right,sorry,it must be because it's almost 2 am. :blushing:
Advice:don't do math at 2 am. :-p

Daniel.
 

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