Answer to January 10, 2005 Problem

The Two Circles Problem

Given two circles that pass through each other's center.
Determine the ratio of the the common area of the two circles to one of the circles.

 


Solution to the Problem:

The answer is .391002 or about 39.1%.

First note that the two circles must have the same radius!  See the diagram below.




Correctly solved by:

1. Jim Arrison Norristown, Pennsylvania
2. David & Judy Dixon Bennettsville, South Carolina
3. Chris McCormick Virginia Tech,
Blacksburg, Virginia
4. James Alarie University of Michigan -- Flint,
Flint, Michigan
5. Sharina Broughton Old Dominion University,
Norfolk, Virginia
6. Rob Adams Winchester, Virginia
7. Felix Morling Tullängensskolan, Örebro, Sweden
8. Larry Schwartz Trumbull, Connecticut
9. Jeffrey Gaither Winchester, Virginia
10. Erik Hagberg Tullängensskolan, Örebro, Sweden
11. Mikael Holmquist Tullängensskolan, Örebro, Sweden
12. Johnas Eklof Tullängensskolan, Örebro, Sweden
13. Richard Johnson La Jolla, California
14. Trey Mason Winchester, Virginia
15. Jason LaRusso Winchester, Virginia
16. Daniel Gardiner Winchester, Virginia