# Homework Help: Two cicles intersect

1. Aug 12, 2010

### Helicobacter

Two circles with same radius intersect, so that the outermost point of either circle goes through the other's center. Arc $$SPX$$ has length $$(3/4)*\pi$$ (see attached image.)

What is the radius of either circle?

I think I could solve this problem if I knew the central angle SX, but I don't know how to identify when they hit (X). Maybe I have to form some special triangle into the image.

#### Attached Files:

• ###### circles.bmp
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Last edited: Aug 12, 2010
2. Aug 12, 2010

### hgfalling

Yes, draw some triangles. You want to know what the length of SX is, right? So make it the hypotenuse of a right triangle with vertices S,X, and the midpoint of OS. (Has to be a right triangle by symmetry). Then figure out what kind of special triangle it is and what its angles are, etc.

3. Aug 12, 2010

### rl.bhat

Join OS and OX.

SO and SX are the radii of one circle and OX is the radius of the other circle. Since the two circles have the same radii, OX = SX = SO.
So the triangle SOX is ..........? and angle SOX = ........?