Geometry Explained: The Properties And Uses Of Chords In Circles

Chord

Segment on a circle where both end points are located on the circle

chord is a line segment that connects two points on the circumference of a circle. The word chord is derived from the Latin word chorda, which means string.

A chord that passes through the center of the circle is called a diameter. Otherwise, it is called a minor chord if it lies entirely inside the circle, or a major chord if it passes outside the circle.

One of the most important properties of a chord is that it is always shorter than the diameter of the circle. Additionally, if two chords of a circle are congruent, then they are equidistant from the center of the circle.

Chords are frequently used in geometry problems involving circles. For example, the perpendicular bisector of a chord always passes through the center of the circle, and the length of a chord can be used to calculate the length of the arc that it intercepts on the circle. Chords can also be used to define other important geometric concepts, such as the inscribed angle and the secant of a circle.

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