Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) warn the driver when the tire pressure of the vehicle is 27% below the target pressure. Suppose the target tire pressure of a certain car is 32 psi (pounds per square inch.)The manufacturer’s recommended correct inflation range is 30 psi to 34 psi. Assume the tires’ average psi is on target. If a tire on the car is inspected at random, what is the probability that the tire’s inflation is within the recommended range?

  5.   y=6; de=7; fg=8

  6.   x=4.2; jl=14.2; mn=13

step-by-step explanation:

when chords cross inside a circle, the product of the segment lengths is a constant.

5. dh×eh = fh×gh

  y = gh = dh×eh/fh = 3×4/2 . . . divide by the coefficient of gh

  y = 6

of course, the total chord length is the sum of the lengths of its segments.

  de = dh +eh = 3+4 = 7

  fg = fh +gh = 2+6 = 8

6. this problem works the same way as the previous one.

  x = lk = mk×nk/jk = 6×7/10 = 4.2

  jl = jk +lk = 10 +4.2 = 14.2

  mn = mk +nk = 6 +7 = 13

comment on chords and secants

you can think of the points h (problem 5) and k (problem 6) as points where the chords meet. a chord is part of a secant line, a line that intersects the circle in two points. one can also consider these points (h or k) to be the points where the respective secant lines meet.

then, the product that is a constant is the product of the distance from the meeting point (h or k) to one circle intersection with the distance from that meeting point to the other circle intersection. for problem 5, the constant is the product hd×he = hf×hg.

it turns out that this rule regarding the products of lengths to points of intersection is also true when the secants intersect outside the circle.

that is, you only need to remember one rule to work both kinds of problems.

answer is 17