Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Mathematics Practice Exam

What does a chord of a circle represent?

1. A tangent that touches the circle

2. A line segment with both endpoints on the circle

3. A line outside the circle

4. A radius of the circle

The correct answer is: A line segment with both endpoints on the circle

A chord of a circle is defined as a line segment whose endpoints both lie on the circle. This means that it connects two points on the circumference, thus creating a straight path inside the circle. It is important to note that a chord does not extend beyond the circle, unlike a tangent or secant. The other choices represent different mathematical concepts. A tangent, for instance, touches the circle at exactly one point but does not go through it. A line outside the circle is entirely separate from the circle itself and does not interact with its geometry. Similarly, a radius is a specific type of line segment that extends from the center of the circle to any point on its perimeter, rather than connecting two points on the circumference. Hence, the identification of a chord as a line segment connecting two points on the circle distinguishes it clearly from these other elements.