Multiple choice

A circle of radius 25 cm has a chord of length 48 cm. What is the length of the perpendicular drawn from the centre of the circle to the chord?

  1. 5 cm

  2. 5.5 cm

  3. 6.5 cm

  4. 7 cm
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The perpendicular from the center to a chord bisects the chord. This forms a right triangle with the radius (hypotenuse = 25) and half the chord (base = 24). Height^2 = 25^2 - 24^2 = 625 - 576 = 49. Height = 7.

AI explanation

A line from the centre of a circle perpendicular to a chord bisects the chord, creating a right triangle with the radius as the hypotenuse. Half of the 48 cm chord is 24 cm, and the radius is 25 cm. Using the Pythagorean theorem, the perpendicular distance is sqrt(25^2 - 24^2) = sqrt(625 - 576) = sqrt(49) = 7 cm. The result is 7 cm.

Keep practicing — related questions