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Math SL
Rachel McIntosh
Introduction
The aim of this task is to investigate the relationship between circles and their intersecting points.
.
In the diagram aside, Circle 2 (C2) is introduced has the centre point P
and has to intersect the centre of the original circle, C1 at point O.
Circle 3 (C3) has the centre A, where A is the point where C1
and C2 intersect. The point P is the intersection between C3
with the line OP.
DETERMINING OP
Letting r=1 , find OP, when OP= 2, OP=3 and OP=4.
To find OP the points A, O, P and P ( AOP) were used to create a
triangle
one below
such as the
OP WHEN OP = 2
Because both AP and OP equal 2, It is established that it is an isosceles triangle.
This means that angle O and angle A must be of the same value.
To determine the angle the Cosine rule: cos = OA2 + OP2 - AP2 / 2 x OA x OP is used.
cos = 12 + 22 - 22 / 2 x 1 x 2
= cos-1 (1/4)
= 75.5225
Therefore both AOP and OAP = 75.5225
out
Now that all three angles of OAP, I can evaluate the length of OP.The sine rule: sin a/ A = sin b/B
sin75.5225/ 1 = sin28.955 / OP
OP x sin75.5225 = sin28.955
OP = sin28.955 / sin75.5225
OP = 0.5 or
1/
2
The same method will be used below to determine the values of OP when OP = 2 and OP= 3.
OP when OP = 3
cos = 12 + 32 - 32 / 3 x 1 x 3
= cos-1 (1/6)
= 80.4059
Therefore both AOP and OAP = 80.4059
AOP = 80.4059 and OPA = 80.4059
Therefore to find OAP:
180- (AOP + OPA) = OAP
180- 160.8118 = 19.1881
Therefore OAP = 19.1881
sin 80.4059/ 1 = sin19.1881 / OP
OP x sin80.4059 = sin19.1881
OP = sin19.1881 / sin80.4059
OP = 1/3
OP when OP = 4
cos = 12 + 42 - 42 / 4 x 1 x 4
= cos-1 (1/8)
= 82.8192
Therefore both AOP and OAP = 82.8192
AOP = 82.8192 and OPA = 82.8192
Therefore to find OAP:
180- (AOP + OPA) = OAP
180- 165.6384 = 82.8192
Therefore OAP = 14.3615
sin 82.8192/ 1 = sin 82.8192 / OP
OP x sin 82.8192 = sin 82.8192
OP = sin 82.8192 / sin 82.8192
OP =
OP
OP
Formula
12 2
12 3
12 4
22 2
9/2
32 2
42 2
1) r= 1 and OP = 1/2
KEY:
Circle 1 ( radius = 1)
Circle 2 ( radius = 1/2)
In the above diagram it can be seen that C3 cannot be sketched as there is no intersect of C1 and C2 that would
provide point A as the centre of C3.
Therefore I have established that when r = 1 and OP = 1/2 , OP cannot be defined.
This means that there is a limitation to my general statement, OP = r 2 / OP because r needs to be greater than
OP2 or r > OP2.
KEY:
Circle 1 ( radius = 3)
Circle 2 ( radius = 2)
Circle 3 ( radius = 3)
2) r= 3 and OP = 2
In the above diagram, C1 has the radius of 3 and OP is 2. Using the point of intersection of C1 and C2 as the
centre, C3 has been drawn.
Shown in the diagram, C3 has the x-intercept of 4.5, meaning that point OP is 4.5. This result works with my
general statement of OP = r2 / OP as
32 / 2 = 9/2 or 4.5
OP
OP
Formula
2/10
not defined
n/a
1/2
not defined
n/a
3/4
4/3
12 3/4
1/2
12 2
1/3
12 3
1/4
12 4
1/5
12 5
100
1/100
12 100
1000
1/1000
12 1000
2/10
not defined
n/a
1/2
not defined
n/a
3/4
9/32
3/42 2
22 2
9/2
32 2
42 2
not defined
n/a
CONCLUSION
Through the experimentation of various values, its been discovered that there are the following limitations to the
formula OP = r2 / OP:
. r has to be greater than 0,
.r has to be greater that the squared value of OP
. r has to be less than twice the value of OP
The use of the program graphmatica enabled me to further explore and discover these limitations, in order to
arrive at a conclusive formula OP = r2 / OP provided that r = ( r > 0 , r > OP2 , r < 2OP ).