Three distinct diameters are drawn on a unit circle such that chords are drawn as shown in Figure 2. If the length of one chord is 2 units and the other two chords are of equal lengths, what is the common length of these chords?
Figure 2: Problem 60.1.
Solution
Solution:
2−2 units
Refer to Figure 7. Let θ be the central angle subtended by the chord of length 2, and α the central angle subtended by each of the chords of equal lengths (and let x be this common length). By the Law of Cosines, we have x2=12+12−2cosα=2−2cosα Since θ+2α=180∘, we get cosα=cos(90∘−2θ)=sin2θ=22 We can then solve for x.
Figure 7: Problem 60.1.
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