Nice Coordination with angles

Geometry Level 4

Given a circle with equation x 2 + ( y 1 ) 2 = 1 x^2 + (y-1)^2 = 1 , find the distance the two intersection points between a line that passes through the origin with angle θ \theta and the circle in terms of θ \theta .

Hence calculate the distance if θ = 6 0 \theta = 60^\circ .

Note: A previous version of this problem had θ = 3 0 \theta = 30^\circ which made the correct answer 1. Those who previously answered 1 have been given credit for a right answer.


The answer is 1.73.

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1 solution

Harry Obey
Jan 16, 2016

First, I have created an image to represent all the information given in the question. Let point X lie on the x-axis where x > 0.

Now,

The interval AB has a distance of 1 as the radius of the circle is 1.

The interval AC has a distance of 1 as the radius of the circle is 1.

Let the interval BC have a length of h.

Let the angle θ \theta be B C X \angle BCX

Now using that information,

A C B \angle ACB is equal to 90 - θ \theta

As AC = AB, triangle ABC is an isosceles triangle so A C B \angle ACB = A B C \angle ABC

Now the sum of a triangle equals 180,

So A C B \angle ACB + A B C \angle ABC + C A B \angle CAB = 180,

Simplifying this we get C A B \angle CAB = 2 θ 2\theta

Now using cosine rule,

h 2 = 1 2 + 1 2 2 1 1 cos 2 θ h^2 = 1^2 + 1^2 - 2*1*1*\cos 2\theta

So h 2 = 2 2 cos 2 θ h^2 = 2 - 2\cos 2\theta

Now as cos 2 θ = 1 2 ( sin θ ) 2 \cos 2\theta = 1 - 2(\sin \theta)^2

Then h 2 = 2 2 + 2 2 ( sin θ ) 2 h^2 = 2 - 2 + 2*2(\sin \theta)^2

Thus h = 2 sin θ h = 2\sin \theta

Letting θ \theta = 60,

We get that h = 1.73

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