Circle A has a radius of 2 and a center of (6 ,5 ). Circle B has a radius of 3 and a center of (2 ,4 ). If circle B is translated by <1 ,3 >, does it overlap circle A? If not, what is the minimum distance between points on both circles?

1 Answer
Oct 10, 2017

Circle B overlaps circle A after translation.

Explanation:

If circle B is translated by <1,3>, the center will be (2+1,4+3)=(3,7).
Let circle B' has a radius of 3 and a center of (3,7).

The distance d between the center of circle A and that of circle B' is:
d=sqrt((3-6)^2+(7-5)^2)=sqrt(13)

Let r_a and r_b to the radius of circle A and circle B(and B') respectively. r_a=2, r_b=3.

This satisfies the inequation:
abs(r_a-r_b)< d< r_a+r_b

Therefore circle A and circle B' (translated circle B) do neither circumscribe nor inscribe. They overlap.
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The figure is cited from http://examist.jp/mathematics/figure-circle/two-circle/ (Japanese)