document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=867556>Question 867556</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let A be a point on the curve C: x^2 + y^2 - 2x - 4 = 0. If the tangent line to C at A passes through the point P(4, 3) then the length of AP is _____ \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I've been stumped on this for hours, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #523083 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39617)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=523083\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You have, or will have, three important points.  Point A on the circle; point C the center of the circle (found from standard form after you complete the square) and point P(4,3) off and away from the circle.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You want to solve for y for the equation of the circle, AFTER putting into standard form.  You will have a variable coordinate, some unknown (x,y) for A on the circle.  y will be some two different functions of x, f(x) and g(x).   Your general point then will be  (x, f(x)) and (x, g(x)).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Use the fact that, because they are perpendicular, letting m symbolize slope, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=m%5Bca%5D%2Am%5Bap%5D=-1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"m%5Bca%5D%2Am%5Bap%5D=-1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.  Use this to find the value or values of x.  Remember, you have two functions to form your circle.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Use x values to find the corresponding y values for point or points \"A\".\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "HELPFUL NOTE:  This is a coordinate geometry problem at about the level of Intermediate Algebra.  A graph of the situation may be very useful to guide your solution.  No differentiation is needed for this exercise.  Trying to treat this as a calculus problem will make a solution unnecessarily difficult. </SPAN>\n" );
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