Two tangents are drawn from an external point P to a circle, touching at points A and B. If the distance from P to the center O is 13 cm, and radius is 5 cm, what is the length of tangent PA?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
In the right-angled triangle OAP,
PA = √(OP² − OA²)
= √(13² − 5²)
= √(169 − 25)
= √144
= 12 cm