Distance between center of two circles connected by one tangent. These probelems can easily by solved using the pythagorean theorem , see pictures below.

$$ HZ $$ is a tangent connecting to the 2 circles. What is the distance between the centers of the circles?

$$ HZ $$ is a tangent connecting to the 2 circles. What is the distance between the centers of the circles?

KL is tangent to both circle W and Circle P.
What is the distance between the centers of the circles below?

Step 1

Create the rectangle.

Step 2

$ WP^2 = 6^2 + 24^2 \\ WP = \sqrt{ 6^2 + 24^2 } \\ \text{m } \overline{WP} \approx 24.7 $

What is the distance between the centers of the circles connected by tangent KL?

$ WP^2 = 40^2 + 30^2 \\ WP = \sqrt{ 40^2 + 30^2 } \\ \text{m } \overline{ WP } = 50 $

What is the distance between the centers of the circles connected by tangent KL?

$ WP^2 = 80^2 + 60^2 \\ WP = \sqrt{ 80^2 + 60^2 } \\ \text{m } \overline{ WP } = 100 $

What is the distance between the centers of the circles O and R, connected by tangent HZ?

Two Circles and One Tangent