Relative positions of two circumferences in the plane

Given two circumferences $C_1$ and $C_2$ with given radius $r_1 = 2$ cm and $r_2 = 10$ cm, what is the relative position between $C_1$ and $C_2$ where the radius is given and the distance between the centers $d$ is given?

  1. $d = 0$ cm
  2. $d = 9$ cm
  3. $d = 8$ cm
  4. $d = 13$ cm
  5. $d = 12$ cm

Note: to resolve this exercise, it is very fortuitous to take paper and pencil and draw a picture of each case to see the solution clearly.

  1. Distance between centers is $0$, and the radiuses are different, so these are inside concentric circles.
  2. Distance between centers is $9$ so, as the radius of $C_1$ is $2$, the circumferences are secant.
  3. Distance between centers is $8$ so, as the radius of $C_1$ is $2$, circumferences are internally tangent.
  4. $13$ cm is greater than the sum of both radiuses, so they are external.
  5. $12$ cm distance is equal to the sum of the two radiuses, so they are tangent interiors.
  1. internally concentric
  2. secants
  3. interior tangents
  4. external
  5. internal tangents
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