document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1147051>Question 1147051</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The centers of 2 coplanar circles of radii 4 and 11 are 25 apart. Find the length of a segment that is a common internal tangent segment of the 2 circles. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #768341 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13203)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=768341\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "I'll describe the method of solution and let you do the work....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) Draw the two circles and the common internal tangent.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) Draw the radii of the two circles to the points of tangency.  Note that those radii are perpendicular to the tangent.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(3) Form a rectangle using the common internal tangent and one of those radii as the length and width.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(4) The diagram will now have a right triangle with the line joining the centers of the two circles as the hypotenuse and a line segment with a length equal to the length of the tangent as one leg.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(5) Use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the length of the tangent.<br><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Comment added after seeing the response from tutor @ikleyn....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The solution method shown in the place referenced in her response is a perfectly valid method.  A good student should be able to understand it, as it uses many useful mathematical ideas.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Note, however, that it requires FAR more work than the method described in my response.... </SPAN>\n" );
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