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Mathematics 21 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

In the figure below, RP is tangent to the circle at R and SP is a secant. What is the value of x?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

OpenStudy (anonymous):

@jim_thompson5910

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

check out theorem 3 http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/math/geometry/GP14/CircleSegments.htm

OpenStudy (anonymous):

So b would be 14 but how do you find c?

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

b is not 14

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Its not? Then how do find it?

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

b is the length of the secant outside the circle

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

c is the length of the entire secant line

OpenStudy (anonymous):

So b=6 and c=14?

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

correct

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Then x= \[2\sqrt{21}\]

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

you are correct

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Thanks for the help!

jimthompson5910 (jim_thompson5910):

np

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