Two perpendicular chords AB and CD intersect at P. If PA = 4, PB = 10, and CD = 13, calculate the length of P to the center of the circle
+9519 Denote M as the midpoint of AB, N as the midpoint of CD.
The answer would be sqrt(PM^2 + PN^2) by Pythagorean theorem.
Note that PM = (AB)/2 - PA = 3.
Let x = PD. Then by power of points,
\(x(13 - x) = 4(10)\\ x^2 - 13x + 40 = 0\\ x = 8\text{ or }x = 5\)
Then PC = 8, PD = 5 or PC = 5, PD = 8.
In any case, PN = 13/2 - 5 = 3/2.
Distance from P to the center of the circle = \(\sqrt{3^2 + \left(\dfrac32\right)^2} = \dfrac{3\sqrt5}2\)
