A wheel has radius 30 cm.It rolls along the ground toward a tack that is 58cm from the point where the wheel currently touches the ground. What is the distance between the tack and the closest point on the circumference of the wheel!

Question

I don't understand thus it all! Please help explain how i do this Thank you!!

Answer 1

draw a picture
line from center of circle to tack hits circumference at a right angle (because it is a radius) and therefore that is the closest point to the tack.
also line from circle center to ground is 90 deg
so right triangle
d is hypotenuse center to tack
r^2 + 58^2 = d^2

900 + 3364 = d^2
d = 65.3
subtract radius of 30
35.3 cm