Try this beautiful problem from Geometry: Circle
Circles with centers $A$ and $B$ have radii 3 and 8 , respectively. A common internal tangent intersects the circles at $C$ and $D$, respectively. Lines $A B$ and $C D$ intersect at $E,$ and $A E=5 .$ What is $C D ?$
,
i
Geometry
Circle
Tangents
Answer: $ \frac{44}{3}$
AMC-10 (2006) Problem 23
Pre College Mathematics
Given that Circles with centers $A$ and $B$ have radii 3 and 8 and $A E=5 .$.we have to find out \(CD\).So join \(BC\) and \(AD\).then clearly \(\triangle BCE\) and \(\triangle ADE\) are Right-Triangle(as \(CD\) is the common tangent ).Now \(\triangle BCE\) and \(\triangle ADE\) are similar.Can you proof \(\triangle BCE\) and \(\triangle ADE\)?
Can you now finish the problem ..........
$\angle A E D$ and $\angle B E C$ are vertical angles so they are congruent, as are angles $\angle A D E$ and $\angle B C E$ (both are right angles because the radius and tangent line at a point on a circle are always perpendicular). Thus, $\triangle A C E \sim \triangle B D E$.
By the Pythagorean Theorem, line segment \(DE=4\)
Therefore from the similarity we can say that \(\frac{D E}{A D}=\frac{C E}{B C} \Rightarrow \frac{4}{3}=\frac{C E}{8}\) .
Therefore \(C E=\frac{32}{3}\)
can you finish the problem........
Therefore \(CD=CE+DE=4+\frac{32}{3}=\frac{44}{3}\)
AMC - AIME Boot Camp... for brilliant students.
Use our exclusive one-on-one plus group class system to prepare for Math Olympiad
In 2025, 8 students from Cheenta Academy cracked the prestigious Regional Math Olympiad. In this post, we will share some of their success stories and learning strategies. The Regional Mathematics Olympiad (RMO) and the Indian National Mathematics Olympiad (INMO) are two most important mathematics contests in India.These two contests are for the students who are […]
Cheenta Academy proudly celebrates the success of 27 current and former students who qualified for the Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM) 2025, advancing to the next stage — RMO. This accomplishment highlights their perseverance and Cheenta’s ongoing mission to nurture mathematical excellence and research-oriented learning.
Cheenta students shine at the Purple Comet Math Meet 2025 organized by Titu Andreescu and Jonathan Kanewith top national and global ranks.
Celebrate the success of Cheenta students in the Stanford Math Tournament. The Unified Vectors team achieved Top 20 in the Team Round.
Interesting problem from lativia.2015 ones are written in a row..It is allowed to delete any two written numbers a and b and is replaced by a+b/4 the process is continued as long as one number remains or the number is less than .0001.Prove that the last number is greater than .0001