Question

Circle A has a center at `(3 ,7 )` and a radius of `1`. Circle B has a center at `(-3 ,3 )` and a radius of `2`. Do the circles overlap? If not, what is the smallest distance between them?

Answer 1

Circles are not overlapping. Smallest distance is 4.2111

Explanation:

Distance between the two centres is `sqrt((3+3)^2 +(7-3)^2)`

=`sqrt (36+16)= sqrt 52=7.211` which is more than the sum of their radii =3. Hence the circles would not overlap and intersect. The smallest distance between the two circles would be along the line joining the two centres and it would be 7.211-(1+2)= 4.2111