SOLUTION: If I have a circle with a radius of 40" and a horizontal tangent line, if I move 2.25" along the tangent line from the point where it contacts the circle, what is the distance to t

Question 761404: If I have a circle with a radius of 40" and a horizontal tangent line, if I move 2.25" along the tangent line from the point where it contacts the circle, what is the distance to the circle.
Thanks in advance.
Steve
sgray125@yahoo.com
Answer by Cromlix(4381) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
hi Steve,
Draw your circle.
Draw a horizontal line along the bottom
of your circle just touching at one point.(Call it P)
Draw a radius from the centre ( C )of your circle
down to P.
Now if you move 2.25" along from point P
to say point R.
Now join up point R with the centre of the circle (C) and
you have a right angled triangle CPR
Right angled at P.
Now, CP^2 + PR^2 = CR^2 (Pythagoras)
40^2 = 2.25^2 = CR^2
CR^2 = 1605.06
CR =
CR = 40.06" (2 decimal places)
Now as CR is made up of the radius and the piece
between Point R and the circle. If we remove the
size of the radius from the size of CR we will
be left with the distance from Point R to the
circle.
40.06 - 40 = 0.06"
Hope this helps Steve.
:-)
RELATED QUESTIONS
I have a circle, diameter 30.85 meters, there is a straight line radiating from the edge (answered by KMST)

Find the equation of the line tangent to the circle at the indicated point. x^2 + y^2 =... (answered by Greenfinch,Theo)

If a line is perpendicular to a radius of a circle at its endpoint that is on the circle, (answered by ikleyn)

If I want to construct a tangent to a circle of radius 4cm from a point on the... (answered by mananth)

The line with equation 4x+5y=7 is a tangent to a circle of radius r. Find the radius r if (answered by Alan3354)

Question: Find the length of a tangent line segment from (10,5) to the circle {{{... (answered by Boreal)

Hi, is there anyway to prove if a line is tangent to a circle without using the radius? (answered by Alan3354)

opps I forgot to put the link for the diagram on my other question!! here it is:... (answered by ikleyn)

Give the equation of the circle tangent to the line 3x+y-2=0 at (-1,5) and with a radius... (answered by reviewermath)