Defence Exam  >  Defence Questions  >  A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent... Start Learning for Free
A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 cm. A line is tangent to both circles and touches them at points A and B. Find the length AB? (in cm) 
  • a)
    12 
  • b)
    14 
  • c)
    10 
  • d)
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 ...

View all questions of this test
Most Upvoted Answer
A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 ...
Problem statement:
Find the length AB of a line that is tangent to two circles of radii 4 cm and 9 cm respectively and touches them at points A and B.

Solution:
Let O and O' be the centers of the circles of radii 4 cm and 9 cm respectively, and let C be the point of intersection of the line AB with the segment OO'.

[IMAGE HERE]

Since the line AB is tangent to both circles, we have

∠OAB = 90° and ∠O'BA = 90°.

Therefore, ∠AOB = ∠BO'C.

Also, since OA and OB are radii of the circle with center O, we have OA = OB = 4 cm.

Similarly, since OB and OC are radii of the circle with center O', we have OB = OC = 9 cm.

Let x be the length of AB. Then, we have

AC = AO + OC = 4 cm + 9 cm = 13 cm

and

BC = BO' - CO = 9 cm - 4 cm = 5 cm.

Applying the Pythagorean theorem to the right triangles AOC and BOC, we get

AC² = AO² + OC²
⇒ 169 = 16 + OC²
⇒ OC² = 153
⇒ OC = √153.

and

BC² = BO'² - CO²
⇒ 25 = 81 - CO²
⇒ CO² = 56
⇒ CO = √56.

Since ∠AOB = ∠BO'C, we have

∠AOC + ∠BO'C = 180°
⇒ ∠AOC = 180° - ∠BO'C
⇒ ∠AOC = 180° - ∠AOB.

Using the Law of Cosines in triangle AOC, we get

x² = AC² + AO² - 2(AC)(AO)cos∠AOC
⇒ x² = 169 + 16 - 2(13)(4)cos(180° - ∠AOB)
⇒ x² = 185 + 104cos∠AOB.

Using the Law of Cosines in triangle BOC, we get

x² = BC² + BO'² - 2(BC)(BO')cos∠BO'C
⇒ x² = 25 + 81 - 2(5)(9)cos∠AOB
⇒ x² = 106 - 90cos∠AOB.

Equating the two expressions for x², we get

185 + 104cos∠AOB = 106 - 90cos∠AOB
⇒ 194cos∠AOB = -79
⇒ cos∠AOB = -79/194.

Since ∠AOB is acute, we have

cos∠AOB = AB/OB
⇒ AB = OBcos∠AOB
⇒ AB = 9(-79/194)
⇒ AB = -36/97.

But AB is a length, so we take the absolute value to get

AB = 36/97.

Therefore, the length AB of the tangent
Explore Courses for Defence exam
A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 cm. A line is tangent to both circles and touches them at points A and B. Find the length AB? (in cm)a)12b)14c)10d)8Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 cm. A line is tangent to both circles and touches them at points A and B. Find the length AB? (in cm)a)12b)14c)10d)8Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for Defence 2024 is part of Defence preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the Defence exam syllabus. Information about A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 cm. A line is tangent to both circles and touches them at points A and B. Find the length AB? (in cm)a)12b)14c)10d)8Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for Defence 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 cm. A line is tangent to both circles and touches them at points A and B. Find the length AB? (in cm)a)12b)14c)10d)8Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 cm. A line is tangent to both circles and touches them at points A and B. Find the length AB? (in cm)a)12b)14c)10d)8Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for Defence. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for Defence Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 cm. A line is tangent to both circles and touches them at points A and B. Find the length AB? (in cm)a)12b)14c)10d)8Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 cm. A line is tangent to both circles and touches them at points A and B. Find the length AB? (in cm)a)12b)14c)10d)8Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 cm. A line is tangent to both circles and touches them at points A and B. Find the length AB? (in cm)a)12b)14c)10d)8Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 cm. A line is tangent to both circles and touches them at points A and B. Find the length AB? (in cm)a)12b)14c)10d)8Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice A circle of radius 4 cm is externally tangent to a circle of radius 9 cm. A line is tangent to both circles and touches them at points A and B. Find the length AB? (in cm)a)12b)14c)10d)8Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice Defence tests.
Explore Courses for Defence exam
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev