Circle A has a radius of #2 # and a center of #(3 ,1 )#. Circle B has a radius of #4 # and a center of #(8 ,5 )#. If circle B is translated by #<-4 ,-1 >#, does it overlap circle A? If not, what is the minimum distance between points on both circles?

1 Answer
Jul 29, 2017

#"circles overlap"#

Explanation:

What we have to do here is #color(blue)"compare"# the distance ( d) between the centres of the circles to the #color(blue)"sum of radii"#

#• " if sum of radii ">d" then circles overlap"#

#• " if sum of radii"< d" then no overlap"#

Before calculating d we require to find the new centre of B under the given translation which does not change the shape of the circle only its position.

#"under a translation "((-4),(-1))#

#(8,5)to(8-4,5-1)to(4,4)larrcolor(red)" new centre of B"#

#"to calculate d use the "color(blue)"distance formula"#

#color(red)(bar(ul(|color(white)(2/2)color(black)(d=sqrt((x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2)color(white)(2/2)|)))#

#(x_1,y_1)=(3,1)" and " (x_2,y_2)=(4,4)#

#d=sqrt((4-3)^2+(4-1)^2)=sqrt(1+9)=sqrt10~~3.162#

#"sum of radii "=2+4=6#

#"since sum of radii ">d" then circles overlap"#
graph{((x-3)^2+(y-1)^2-4)((x-4)^2+(y-4)^2-16)=0 [-10, 10, -5, 5]}