Question
Mathematics Question on Equal Chords and their Distances from the Centre
If a line intersects two concentric circles (circles with the same centre) with centre O at A, B, C and D, prove that AB = CD (see Fig).
Answer
Let us draw a perpendicular OM on line AD.
It can be observed that BC is the chord of the smaller circle and AD is the chord of the bigger circle.
We know that perpendicular drawn from the centre of the circle bisects the chord.
∠BM = MC ... (1) And,
AM = MD ... (2)
On subtracting equation (2) from (1), we obtain
AM − BM = MD − MC
∠AB = CD