Common Tangents

Types of Common Tangents

 Direct Common Tangents (1 and 4)

 Transverse Common Tangents (2 and 3)

 Length of Direct Common
Tangent
 We need the length of AB (L)

 Perpendicular is dropped CO2 on O1A

 CO2 = AB

 CO22 = (O1O2)2 – (O1C)2

 CO22 = (O1O2)2 – (R–r)2

 Length of Transverse
Common Tangent
 We need the length of AC

 Draw O1D||AC to complete a rectangle (O1D = AC)

 O1D2 = (O1O2)2 – (O2D)2

O2D = R+r

 AC2 = (O1O2)2 – (R+r)2

Equation of Common Tangents
 We need equation of AB

 Extend AB to P and find coordinates of P (section

formula)
 P divides in the ratio r:R

AB: (y–y1) = m(x–x1)

Now, apply tangent equation

 Positions of Common
Tangents
 If 2 circles lie outside each other, there are 4 common
tangents

2 Direct and 2 Transverse

 C1C2 > r1+r2
 Positions of Common
Tangents
 If 2 circles touch externally at one point, there are 3
common tangents

2 Direct and 1 Transverse

 C1C2 = r1+r2
 Positions of Common
Tangents
 If two circles intersect at two points

There are 2 direct tangents and no transverse tangents

 C1C2 < r1+r2

 C1C2 > |r1 – r2|

 Positions of Common
Tangents
 If two circles touch internally

There is one direct tangent

 C1C2 = |r1–r2|
 Example
 Find length of direct common tangents to the circles
x2+y2–2x–6y+9 = 0 and x2+y2–6x–2y+1 = 0

The center and radii are C1 (1,3), r1 = 1, C2 = (–3,1), r2 = 3

Since C1C2 = √20 and r1+r2 = 4

 Circles are non intersecting and there are 4 tangents

 Example contd.
 C1P2 + 22 = 20

 C1P2 = 16

 AB = 4 units
 Example
 Find the range of ‘a’ such that the circles:

(x–2)2 + (y–1)2 = a2 and (x–4)2 + (y–1)2 = 4

intersect at 2 points

If circles intersect at 2 points:

C1C2 < r1 + r2 and C1C2 > |r1–r2|

 |a–2| < 2 < a + 2

 Example contd.
 |a–2| < 2 < a + 2

From 2 < a+2,

a>0

From |a–2| < 2,

 –2 < a–2 < 2

0 < a < 4
 Example
 Find the number of common tangents to the circles: x 2+y2 = 9 and
(x–8)2+(y–10)2 = 25
 Also find the equations of TCT (if present)

The center and radii: C1 is (0,0), r1 = 3 and C2 = (8,10), r2 = 5

C1C2 = √164 > r1 + r2

 They are two separated circles having 4 common tangents

We need to find the equations of both TCTs now

 Example contd.
 The point P divides C1C2 in r1:r2, i.e., 3:5

 P is (3,15/4)

Hence, AB and CD are:

y – 15/4 = m(x–3)

 y = mx + (15/4 – 3m)

We can now apply tangency condition w.r.t. C 1

 Example contd.
 Condition for Tangency is c2 = r2(1+m2)

 (15/4 – 3m)2 = 9(1+m2)

Solving, m = 9/40

Since there is only 1 value

for m, the other value for m
is ∞

 TCTs are y–15/4 = 9/40(x–3) and x = 3

 Example
 Prove that the common tangents to the circle x2+y2–6x = 0
and x2+y2+2x = 0 form an equilateral triangle

C1 is (3,0), r1 is 3, C2 is (–1,0), r2 is 1

The tangents are marked 1, 2, 3

Y axis is also a tangent

 Example contd.
 P divides the C1C2 in the ratio r1:r2, i.e., 1:3

 P is (–3,0)

 sin(∠OPA) = 3/6 = ½

 ∠OPA = 30˚

 Angle formed by 1 and 2 is 60˚

Also, by symmetry PM = PN, so ∆PMN is equilateral

 3
B C1
M
1 A 3
C1
1
P –1,0 O (3,0) C2
2
C2 N
C
P (0,0)
(8,10)
C1
B
D C2