Diameter of the circle

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Diameter of the circle

by binaras » Fri Apr 24, 2015 10:25 pm
Hi,

Need help answering the question in the attached screen shot.

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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Apr 24, 2015 11:49 pm
Equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in a circle (points ABC are on the circle). IF the length of arc ABC is 24, what is the approximate diameter of the circle

A) 5
B) 8
C) 11
D) 15
E) 19
The equilateral triangle cuts the circle in 3 equal arcs.
Arc ABC travels the length of 2 of those arcs.
So, each arc must have length 12, which means the TOTAL CIRCUMFERENCE = (3)(12) = 36

Now, we'll use the formula: CIRCUMFERENCE = (pi)(diameter)
So, 36 = (3.14)(diameter)
This means that: diameter = 36/3.14

IMPORTANT: We need not perform any long division here. Notice that the answer choices are nicely spread apart. So, we can ESTIMATE.
We know that 36/3 = 12
Since 3.14 is a bit bigger than 3, we know that 36/3.14 will be a bit smaller than 12.

Answer choice C is a bit smaller than 12, so it must be the correct answer.

Cheers,
Brent
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by GMATGuruNY » Sat Apr 25, 2015 2:51 am
Equilateral triangle ABC is inscribed in a circle (points ABC are on the circle). IF the length of arc ABC is 24, what is the approximate diameter of the circle

A) 5
B) 8
C) 11
D) 15
E) 19
A CENTRAL ANGLE is formed by two radii.
An INSCRIBED ANGLE is formed by two chords.
When an inscribed angle and a central angle intercept the SAME ARC on a circle, the degree measurement of the inscribed angle is 1/2 the degree measurement of the central angle:

Image

Circles display the following proportionality:

(Central Angle)/360 = (intercepted arc length)/circumference = (sector area)/(circle area)

Since 120/360 = 1/3, the intercepted arc in the circle above is 1/3 the circumference of the circle, and the sector enclosed by the two radii is 1/3 the area of the entire circle.

Onto the problem above:

Image

Let c = circumference.
Since ∠A is 60º, the corresponding central angle = 120º.
Since 120/360 = 1/3, arc BC = (1/3)c.
Using similar logic, arc AB = (1/3)c.
Thus, arc ABC = (2/3)c.

Since arc ABC = 24, we get:
24 = 2/3c
c = 36.

Thus:
Ï€d = 36.
d ≈ 11.

The correct answer is C.
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