Two circles have the following equations #(x -1 )^2+(y -7 )^2= 25 # and #(x +3 )^2+(y +3 )^2= 9 #. Does one circle contain the other? If not, what is the greatest possible distance between a point on one circle and another point on the other?

1 Answer
Jun 24, 2018

#"no overlap "~~18.77#

Explanation:

#"what we have to do here is compare the distance (d)"#
#"between the centres to the sum/difference of the radii"#

#• " if difference of radii">d" then one circle inside other"#

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

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

#(x-1)^2+(y-7)^2=25," centre"=(1,7), r=5#

#(x+3)^2+(y+3)^2=9," centre "=(-3,-3),r=3#

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

#•color(white)(x)d=sqrt((x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2)#

#"let "(x_1,y_1)=(1,7)" and "(x_2,y_2)=(-3,-3)#

#d=sqrt((-3-1)^2+(-3-7)^2)#

#color(white)(d)=sqrt(16+100)=sqrt116~~10.77#

#"difference of radii "=5-3=2#

#"sum of radii "=5+3=8#

#"since sum of radii"< d" then no overlap"#

#"maximum distance "=d+" sum of radii"#

#color(white)(xxxxxxxxxxxxxx)=10.77+8=18.77#
graph{((x-1)^2+(y-7)^2-25)((x+3)^2+(y+3)^2-9)=0 [-20, 20, -10, 10]}