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.

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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(52782) About Me  (Show Source):
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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

sqrt%2825%5E2+-+%2812-5%29%5E2%29 = sqrt%28625+-+49%29 = 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.