Circle A has a radius of 3 3 and a center of (2 ,7 )(2,7). Circle B has a radius of 2 2 and a center of (6 ,1 )(6,1). If circle B is translated by <2 ,7 ><2,7>, does it overlap circle A? If not, what is the minimum distance between points on both circles?

1 Answer
Jun 28, 2017

The circles do not overlap and the minimum distance is =1.08=1.08

Explanation:

Circle AA, center O_A=(2,7)OA=(2,7)

The equation of circle AA is

(x-2)^2+(y-7)^2=9(x2)2+(y7)2=9

Circle BB, center O_B=(6,1)OB=(6,1)

The equation of circle BB is

(x-6)^2+(y-1)^2=4(x6)2+(y1)2=4

The center of circle B' after translation is

(6,1)+(2,7)=(8,8)

Circle B', center O_B'=(8,8)

The equation of the circle after translation is

(x-8)^2+(y-8)^2=4

The distance O_AO_B' is

=sqrt((8-2)^2+(8-7)^2)

=sqrt(36+1)

=sqrt37

=6.08

This distance is greater than the sum of the radii

O_AO_B'>r_A+r_B'

So, the circles do not overlap and the minimum distance is

=6.08-(2+3)

=1.08
graph{((x-2)^2+(y-7)^2-9)((x-6)^2+(y-1)^2-4)((x-8)^2+(y-8)^2-4)=0 [-7.28, 18.03, -1.57, 11.09]}