The number of common tangents to the two circles $x^2+y^2-8 x+2 y=0 \quad$ and $x^2+y^2-2 x-16 y+25=0$ is :

The number of common tangents to the two circles $x^2+y^2-8 x+2 y=0 \quad$ and $x^2+y^2-2 x-16 y+25=0$ is :
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4

Solution

The equations of circles are $x^2+y^2-8 x+2 y=0$ and $x^2+y^2-2 x-16 y+25=0$ The centre and radius of first circle are $C_1(4,-1)$ and $\sqrt{17}$ respectively. Also the centre and radius of second circle are $C_2(1,8)$ and $\sqrt{40}$ respectively. $\because \quad C_1 C_2=\sqrt{(1-4)^2+(8+1)^2}$ $=\sqrt{9+81}=\sqrt{90}$ and $r_1+r_2=\sqrt{17}+\sqrt{40}$ $\because \quad C_1 C_2 < r_1+r_2$ $\therefore$ These two circles internally Thus the number of common tangents is 2 .

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2006

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