segments AB, BC and AC are tangents to a circle. If AB=15, BC=16, AC= 13 Find AE

Question

segments AB, BC and AC are tangents to a circle. If AB=15, BC=16, AC= 13  Find AE

anonymous · Answer

what is E

anonymous · Answer

theres a diagram in the attachment!!  its like...the point of tangency of AC

anonymous · Answer

but how do you know that ABE is a right triangle?

anonymous · Answer

@rsvitale, how do you know ABE is a right triangle?

anonymous · Answer

lol...

anonymous · Answer

Okay quick question not involving math... 
Is your name Ivory? Mines ivy

anonymous · Answer

XD  yes...my name is Ivory...=D

anonymous · Answer

OMG!!
Thats effing awesome!!
LOL ^_^ I always have people call me Ivory instead of Ivy :D

anonymous · Answer

BUT PEOPLE ALWAYS CALL ME IVY!! XD
anyways...this is the answer to the question...but i still dont understand it...

"the perpendicular bisector of a chord contains the centre of the circle, a tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius at the point of tangency and the tangent segments to a circle, from any external point, are congruent."

anonymous · Answer

RLY!?!?!!?!
Thats fricking awesome =3 
Never met anyone with anything close to my name ;D ;D

anonymous · Answer

point of tangency of AB=F, point of tangency of BC=G
AE=AF=a
FB=BG=c
GC=EC=b

anonymous · Answer

a+c=15
a+b=13
c+b=16

anonymous · Answer

you can solve that for a=AE

anonymous · Answer

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
omgomgomg!!! that is genius!! thank you!!!!!

anonymous · Answer

youre welcome, sorry for the initial mistake :)

anonymous · Answer

thats ok!!! thank you soo much!

anonymous · Answer

@rsvitale, well done

anonymous · Answer

thanks