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Bunuel
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XY = b - WX

WX^2 = R^2 - (a/2)^2

OZ^2 = (OX+YZ)^2 + XY^2
=> R^2 = (a/2 + c)^2 + (b - WX)^2
=> R^2 = (a/2 + c)^2 + b^2 + WX^2 - 2*b*WX
=> R^2 = (a/2)^2 + c^2 + ca + b^2 + R^2 - (a/2)^2 - 2*b*WX
=> 2*b*WX = b^2 + c^2 + ca
=> WX = (b^2 + c^2 + ca)/2b
=> WX^2 = ((b^2 + c^2 + ca)/2b)^2
=> R^2 - (a/2)^2 = ((b^2 + c^2 + ca)/2b)^2
=> R^2 = ((b^2 + c^2 + ca)/2b)^2 + (a/2)^2
=> R^2 = (b^4 + c^4 + c^2*a^2 + 2*b^2*c^2 + 2*c^3*a + 2*b^2*ca + a^2*b^2)/4b^2 ------(1)

we can stop here, since the numerator of all the options are the same and only the denominator varies...but to cross verify we will proceed to simplify

bring all the b^2 terms together and c^2 terms together

=> R^2 = ((b^4 + b^2*c^2 + 2*b^2*ca + a^2*b^2)+(c^4 + c^2*a^2 + b^2*c^2 + 2*c^3*a))/4b^2
=> R^2 = (b^2(b^2 + c^2 + 2ca + a^2) + c^2(b^2 + c^2 + 2ca + a^2))/4b^2
=> R^2 = (b^2 + c^2)(b^2 + (c+a)^2)/4b^2
=> R = sq root((b^2 + c^2)(b^2 + (c+a)^2))/2b

Ans: B
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IanStewart
If there's a formula that will give us the radius r for any values of a, b and c, then that formula will need to work when c= 0. If c = 0, then the lines of lengths a and b become chords of the circle. If we make a triangle using those two lines, the third side will be a diameter (so has length 2r), because a and b meet at a 90 degree angle. Now we can use Pythagoras:

(2r)^2 = a^2 + b^2
r^2 = (a^2 + b^2) / 4
r = [√(a^2 + b^2) ] / 2

and plugging c=0 into each answer choice, we see that B is right.

Simple, yet brilliant solution!! This is the difference between Q49 and Q51.

Thank you IanStewart sir!
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