Answer:
The length from the external point to the center of the circle is 5 cm
Step-by-step explanation:
Here, we want to calculate the distance from the center of the circle to the external point
Please check attachment for diagram
Now, from what we know, the tangent and the radius meets at right angle
So we have a right-angled triangle with the length from the external point to the center of the circle as hypotenuse;
While the radius and the length of the tangent to the circle as the other sides
Using Pythagoras’ theorem, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the two other sides
Let the length we want to calculate be x
x^2 = 3^2 + 4^2
x^2 = 9 + 16
x^2 = 25
x = √25
x = 5 cm
