Find the Proof: Tangent Lines & a Circle w/ Square Root of 3 Radius

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a homework problem involving two tangent lines to a circle, where the distance between the lines is stated to be the square root of 3 times the circle's radius. Participants express confusion regarding the definition of tangent lines, noting that they should only touch the circle at a single point. One user suggests that the provided picture may be incorrect and encourages clarification from the teacher. The conversation highlights the need for accurate information to understand the theorem being referenced. Overall, the participants are seeking guidance on proving the relationship between the tangent lines and the circle's radius.
Miike012
Messages
1,009
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Our teacher was talking about something regarding two tangent lines on a circle who distance between the tangent lines is square root of 3 times the radius of the circle...
She wanted us to find the proof of this but I am stumped on where to even look...
Does anyone know what she is talking about?

I added a picture..

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 

Attachments

  • M.jpg
    M.jpg
    11.8 KB · Views: 409
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi Miike012! :smile:
Miike012 said:
Our teacher was talking about something regarding two tangent lines on a circle who distance between the tangent lines is square root of 3 times the radius of the circle...
She wanted us to find the proof of this but I am stumped on where to even look...
Does anyone know what she is talking about?

But they aren't tangent lines. :confused:

Can you give us a clue as to roughly what the theorem was about? :redface:
 
Well, first, your picture must be incorrect. A tangent line will touch the circle at a single point only. Are you sure that's all the information you have?
 
Thats what I was thinking... I am going to email her right now and ask her..
 
I picked up this problem from the Schaum's series book titled "College Mathematics" by Ayres/Schmidt. It is a solved problem in the book. But what surprised me was that the solution to this problem was given in one line without any explanation. I could, therefore, not understand how the given one-line solution was reached. The one-line solution in the book says: The equation is ##x \cos{\omega} +y \sin{\omega} - 5 = 0##, ##\omega## being the parameter. From my side, the only thing I could...
Back
Top