Question

Given: Circle A externally tangent to Circle B.
How many possible common tangents to circles A and B can exist?

Answer 1

we can have one more tangent, gong on top of both circles

Answer 2

so... total how many common tangents possible ? :)

Answer 3

@ganeshie8 2
3
4

Answer 4

a. 2
b. 3
c. 4

Answer 5

open the given diagram and stare at it,
do u see 2 lines ? they're just touching both the circles right ?

Answer 6

Yes @ganeshie8

Answer 7

good, those two lines are called **common tangents**
cuz, they're just touching both the circle

Answer 8

can we draw any more lines like that ? (just touching both circles)

Answer 9

one more? @ganeshie8

Answer 10

thats correct, we can draw one more on top of both circles
so total 3 common tangents possible !

Answer 11

but how is it 3 if there is one line already. Wouldn't it be just 2 line?

Answer 12

Ohhhhh okay! I see now

Answer 13

3 common tangents, do u see

Answer 14

good :)

Answer 15

Thank you so much! @ganeshie8

Answer 16

np :)