A tangent line PA is drawn from an external point P to a circle, if the radius is 8 cm and the distance from P to the center is 17 cm, what is the length of the tangent PA?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. 15 cm.
PA is a tangent at A. So, OA ⊥ PA
PA2 = OP2 – OA2 = 172 – 82 = 289 – 64 = 225
⇒ PA = √225 = 15 cm