AB is tangent to O. If AO = 21 and BC = 14, what is AB? Picture is below.

Question

anonymous · Answer

attachment

directrix · Answer

If a radius is drawn to a tangent of a circle at the point of tangency, a right angle is formed.

So, Triangle BAO is a right triangle. 

Think Pythagorean Theorem.

directrix · Answer

@SouthernBelle730   Look on the attachment above.

What is the length of segment BO?

directrix · Answer

Yes, then let tangent AB be T.

So, T² + 21² = 35²

Solve that for T and you will know the length of tangent AB.

Post what you get, okay?

anonymous · Answer

T=14? @Directrix

directrix · Answer

@SouthernBelle730   >> T=14?  NO.

The square root of a sum is not the sum of the square roots.

So, if T² + 21² = 35², then T is NOT equal to 35 - 21 = 14.

directrix · Answer

T² + 21² = 35²
T²  = 35² - 21²
T²  = 1225 - 441
T²  = ?
T    = ?

@SouthernBelle730

anonymous · Answer

28