Can a radius be negative?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether a radius, which is a measurement of distance from the center to the edge of a circle, can have a negative value. This implies a conceptual understanding of geometry and properties of geometric figures.
Answer
No, the radius of a circle cannot be negative.
The radius of a circle cannot be negative since it represents a distance from the center to the boundary, and distances cannot be negative.
Answer for screen readers
The radius of a circle cannot be negative since it represents a distance from the center to the boundary, and distances cannot be negative.
More Information
The radius is always a non-negative number because it is a measure of distance. While in certain mathematical contexts like polar coordinates, a negative value can represent a direction, the radius itself remains a positive distance.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse the concept of negative direction in coordinate systems with the radius being negative. Always remember the radius is a distance and cannot be negative.
Sources
- Radius of a Circle - SplashLearn - splashlearn.com
- Can the radius of a circle be negative? - Quora - quora.com
