document.write( "Question 203944: Find m such that the line y=mx+3 is tangent to the circle x^2+y^2=2
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document.write( "Could you guide me how can I find m in a circle equation?thanks \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #153871 by RAY100(1637)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! The equation of a circle is x^2 +y^2 =r^2,,,,in this case x^2+y^2=2,,, \n" ); document.write( "or r=sqrt2 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "The tan line has the eqn,,,,y=mx+3,,,,with std eqn,,y=mx=b,,,,b=3 \n" ); document.write( "or the y intercept is at (0,3) \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Drawing a rough sketch helps. Circle about origin with r= sqrt2 = 1.414 \n" ); document.write( "tan line thru (0,3) to either side of circle. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Remember that a line tan to a circle, touches only one point, perpendicular to the radius. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Adding such a line to the sketch, finds a rt triangle, one vertex at (0,0), another at (0,3) . \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Legs of this triangle are 3 and sqrt2. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "let angle formed by vertical axis and tan line be \"a\". \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "sin a = sqrt2 /3 = .4714,,,,,a=28.1255 degrees \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "tan a = x/y of line tan to circle,,,or y/x= 1/tan a=1/tan 28.1255= 1.87 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "but m=y/x =1.87,,,,this is negative on rt side of circle and positive on left side. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "from,,y=mx +b, lt side ln is y=1.87x +3,,rt side ln is y= -1.87x +3 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |