Given: AC and AE are common external tangents of G and D. FE=26 and GF=5 and AG=13. What is the measure of AC?

Question

anonymous · Answer

attachment

bahrom7893 · Answer

sry i still didn't solve the previous set of problem, will attempt this as soon as i finish that one

bahrom7893 · Answer

@amistre64 , if you have time, help him out.

anonymous · Answer

:/ ok thanx!

bahrom7893 · Answer

Okay, I think I can solve this.

bahrom7893 · Answer

So, to figure out AC, you need AB and BC

bahrom7893 · Answer

Observe that AGB is a right triangle. We'll use that fact to find AB.
AB^2 = AG^2+BG^2
BG = radius of the smaller circle = GF = 5
AB^2 = 13^2 + 5^2
AB^2 = 169+25= 194
AB = sqrt(194) = 13.9

bahrom7893 · Answer

woah wait, that's wrong.. it's not a right triangle, we can't assume that just yet.. hold on..

anonymous · Answer

ok

anonymous · Answer

I have school tomorrow..do you know the answer?

bahrom7893 · Answer

I'm still thinking about this one. I know you have school tomorrow, so do I. Just come back in the morning before you leave. If I can solve it, i will post the solution here.

anonymous · Answer

but I have more questions :(

bahrom7893 · Answer

then post them on the side, what are you waiting for.

anonymous · Answer

can you just post it now? i can wait a little longer

bahrom7893 · Answer

listen lol, if i could easily solve this, i would've posted it immediately. This involves material that i learnt years ago. it's hard to keep that all in mind. im still trying to solve this on paper.

anonymous · Answer

ok..whatever works for you.

amistre64 · Answer

tangents meet at 90s was your idea ...

bahrom7893 · Answer

wait so i was right?

amistre64 · Answer

|dw:1330489356614:dw|

amistre64 · Answer

af + fe = ac

amistre64 · Answer

5-12-13 is a righty i beleive

12 + 26 = 38