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Question

The distance between the centres of two circles is 24 cm. If the radius of the two circles are 4 cm and 8 cm, then what is the sum of the lengths (in cm) of the direct common tangent and the transverse common tangent?

This question was previously asked in
SSC CGL 2017 (Tier 1) Previous Year Paper (16-Aug-2017) (Shift 1)
The correct answer is

4(√35 + 3√3)

Step 1 — Direct common tangent:

\[L=\sqrt{d^2-(r_2-r_1)^2}=\sqrt{24^2-4^2}=\sqrt{560}=4\sqrt{35}\]

Step 2 — Transverse common tangent:

\[T=\sqrt{d^2-(r_1+r_2)^2}=\sqrt{576-144}=\sqrt{432}=12\sqrt 3\]

Sum: \(4\sqrt{35}+12\sqrt 3=4(\sqrt{35}+3\sqrt 3)\) cm.

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Similar Questions

  1. What can be the maximum number of common tangent which can be drawn to two non-intersecting circles?

  2. There are two identical circles of radius 10 cm each. If the length of the direct common tangent is 26 cm, then what is the length (in cm) of the transverse common tangent?

  3. AB is a chord in the minor segment of a circle with centre O. C is a point on the minor arc (between A and B). The tangents to the circle at A and B meet at a point P. If ∠ACB = 108°, then ∠APB is equal to:

  4. AB is the chord of a circle such that AB = 10 cm. If the diameter of the circle is 20 cm, then the angle subtended by the chord at the centre is ________.

  5. The radius of a circle is 5 cm. Calculate the length of a tangent drawn to this circle from a point at a distance of 10 cm from its centre.

  6. In the given figure, if PA and PB are tangents to the circle with centre O such that ∠APB = 54°, then ∠ OBA = ________.

  7. In a circle, a ten cm long chord is at a distance of 12 cm from the centre of the circle. The length of the diameter of the circle (in cm) is:

  8. PRT is a tangent to a circle with centre O, at the point R on it. Diameter SQ of the circle is produced to meet the tangent at P and QR is jointed. If ∠QRP = 28°, then the measure of ∠SPR is:

  9. PAB and PCD are two secants to a circle. If PA = 10 cm, AB = 12 cm and PC = 11 cm, then what is the value (in cm) of PD?

  10. A circle is inscribed in ΔABC, touching AB, BC and AC at the points P, Q and R respectively. If AB - BC = 4 cm, AB - AC = 2 cm and the perimeter of ΔABC = 32 cm, then PB + AR is equal to∶


Important Questions from Circles, Chords and Tangents

  1. AB is a chord of a circle with centre O and P is any point on the circle. If ∠APB = 112°, then what is the measure of ∠OAB ?

  2. An equilateral triangle ABC and a scalene triangle DBC are inscribed in a circle on same side of the arc. what is ∠BDC equal to?

  3. What can be the maximum number of common tangent which can be drawn to two non-intersecting circles?

  4. There are two identical circles of radius 10 cm each. If the length of the direct common tangent is 26 cm, then what is the length (in cm) of the transverse common tangent?

  5. AB is a chord in the minor segment of a circle with centre O. C is a point on the minor arc (between A and B). The tangents to the circle at A and B meet at a point P. If ∠ACB = 108°, then ∠APB is equal to:

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