SOLUTION: find the length of the common external tangents to two circles of radii 5cm and 12 cm respectively, if the distance between their centers 25cm.

Question 1006852: find the length of the common external tangents to two circles of radii 5cm and 12 cm respectively, if the distance between their centers 25cm.
Answer by ikleyn(52786) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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Find the length of the common external tangents to two circles of radii 5 cm and 12 cm respectively, if the distance between their centers 25 cm.
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The length of the common external tangents to two circles is

= = 24 cm.

See the Figure below.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

For details see the lesson HOW TO construct a common exterior tangent line to two circles in this site.

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