Select the correct option to fill in the blank given in the statement below.

A line intersects a circle at two distinct points. The distance between these two points must be _________ to the diameter of the circle.

• A line intersects a circle at two distinct points.
• A line segment joining any two points on a circle is called a chord.
• The largest chord of a circle is called the diameter. Therefore, a chord of a circle is always less than or equal to the diameter of the circle.
• Therefore, we can say that a line intersecting two distinct points on a circle must be less than or equal to the diameter of the circle.

Hence, 'less than or equal' is the correct response.