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Constructions

Question
CBSEENMA10008467

The length of a tangent from a point A at distance 5 cm from the centre of the circle is 4 cm. Find the radius of the circle.

Solution

Since, the tangent at any point of a circle is perpendicular to radius through the point of contact.
Therefore, ∠OPQ = 90°
It is given that OQ = 5 cm
and    PQ = 4 cm

In right ΔOPQ, we have
OQ2 = OP2 + PQ2
[Using Pythagoras Theorem]
OP2 = OQ2 – PQ2
⇒ OP2 = (5)2 – (4)2
= 25 – 16 = 9
⇒ OP = 3 cm
Hence, the radius of the circle is 3 cm.