Two circles, each with a radius of 10 cm and centers A and B, intersect at points P and Q.
PQ = 12 cm
AB intersects PQ at point O.
\(\therefore \triangle\) AOP has AP = 10 cm
OP = \(\frac{PQ}{2} = \cfrac{12}{2}\) cm = 6 cm.
\(\therefore\) AO = \(\sqrt{AP^2 - OP^2}\)
\(=\sqrt{10^2 - 6^2}\) cm \(=\sqrt{100 - 36}\) cm \(=\sqrt{64}\) cm = 8 cm.
\(\therefore\) AB = 2AO = \(2 \times 8\) cm = 16 cm.
\(\therefore\) The distance between the centers of the two circles is 16 cm.