Question

BC is tangent to circle A at B and to circle D at C. If AB = 11, BC = 15, and DC = 3, what is the length of AD (The diagram is not to scale)
Please show how you got your answer. Thank you!

Answer 1

Hint: First draw in these 2 triangles like so

Answer 2

use that drawing to find x and tell me what you get

Answer 3

If you're not sure how to set up an equation, use the fact that those triangles are similar triangles

So

11/3 = (15+x)/x

Answer 4

@jim_thompson5910 I am really stuck, I went blank. Could you expand on that please?

Answer 5

what do you get when you solve 11/3 = (15+x)/x for x

Answer 6

@jim_thompson5910 I get 55 what do you get?

Answer 7

@jim_thompson5910 could you please show me what answer you get because I don't know what to do next.

Answer 8

11/3 = (15+x)/x


11x = 3(15+x)


11x=45+3x


11x-3x=45


8x=45


x=45/8

Answer 9

So we now know this

Answer 10

let y and z be these following lengths