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Circles with radius of 6 units and 4 units are drawn in such a way that exactly 3 common tangents are possible. If a direct common tangent from point A touches the circles at points B and C, what is the length of BC?
  • a)
    8√6
  • b)
    7√6
  • c)
    4√6
  • d)
    12
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Circles with radius of 6 units and 4 units are drawn in such a way tha...
Let O1 and O2 be the centers of the circles with radii 6 and 4 units, respectively. Let D be the point where the direct common tangent from A touches the larger circle, and let E be the point where the direct common tangent from A touches the smaller circle.

Since the radius of the larger circle is 6 units, OD is perpendicular to the direct common tangent from A. Similarly, OE is perpendicular to the direct common tangent from A.

Since the direct common tangent from A is a tangent to both circles, BD and CE are also tangents to the circles. Therefore, BD is perpendicular to OD, and CE is perpendicular to OE.

Let F be the intersection of BD and CE. Since BD is perpendicular to OD and CE is perpendicular to OE, BD and CE are parallel. Therefore, triangle BCF is a right triangle.

Since the radius of the larger circle is 6 units and OD is perpendicular to the direct common tangent from A, OD has length 6 units. Similarly, OE has length 4 units.

Since triangle BCF is a right triangle, BF is the hypotenuse. By the Pythagorean theorem, we have:

BF^2 = BC^2 + CF^2

Since triangle BCF is a right triangle, CF has length 6 - 4 = 2 units.

Substituting the values we know into the equation above, we have:

BF^2 = BC^2 + 2^2
BF^2 = BC^2 + 4

Since BF is the hypotenuse of a right triangle, its length is always greater than the lengths of the other two sides. Therefore, BF > BC.

Since BC and BF are both positive lengths, we can take the square root of both sides of the equation above:

sqrt(BF^2) = sqrt(BC^2 + 4)
BF = sqrt(BC^2 + 4)

Since BF > BC, we have:

sqrt(BC^2 + 4) > BC

Squaring both sides of this inequality, we have:

BC^2 + 4 > BC^2
4 > 0

Therefore, the inequality is always true. This means that any positive value of BC satisfies the inequality.

Therefore, the length of BC can be any positive value. It is not necessarily 8 units.
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Community Answer
Circles with radius of 6 units and 4 units are drawn in such a way tha...
Since exactly 3 tangents are possible, the circles should touch externally. Let us try to draw the circles and a direct common tangent to understand the question better.

 
Here O'C = 6 and OB = 4. BC is the direct common tangent and D is the transverse tangent. We have to find length BC.
Triangle BOA and CO'A are similar triangles. 

Let OA = x then

On cross-multiplying we get 6x = 40 + 4x thus x = 20
Thus O'A = 6+4+20=30 
In right triangle O'AC
(AC)2=(O′A)2−(O′C)2
(AC)2=(30)2−(6)2=864
(AC)=12√6​....(I)
In right triangle OAB
(AB)2=(OA)2−(OB)2
(AB)2=(20)2−(4)2=384
(AB)=8√6​....(II)
BC = AC - AB From(I) and (II)
BC = 4√6
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Circles with radius of 6 units and 4 units are drawn in such a way that exactly 3 common tangents are possible. If a direct common tangent from point A touches the circles at points B and C, what is the length of BC?a)8√6b)7√6c)4√6d)12Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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