A chord of length 16 cm is drawn in a circle of radius 10 cm. Find the distance of the chord from the center of the circle.

Let AB be a chord of a circle with center O. OCAB, then


AB = 16 cm, and OA = 10 cm.



OCAB


Therefore,


OC bisects AB at C


AC = (1/2) AB


⇒ AC = (1/2) 16


⇒ AC = 8 cm


In triangle OAC,


OA2 = OC2 + AC2


⇒ 102 = OC2 + 82


⇒ 100 = OC2 + 64


⇒ OC2= 36


⇒ OC= 6


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