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PA PB RS are tangents. Why PR+RS+SP=PA+PB

PA PB RS are tangents. Why PR+RS+SP=PA+PB-example-1

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Explanation:

Theorem:

If two tangents are drawn to a circle from an external point to the circle, then the tangent segments are congruent.

Because of the theorem above, these pairs of segments are congruent:

PA, PB

RA, RC

SC, SB

Now look at PA and PB.

PA = PR + RA

PB = SP + SB

Since from above, RA = RC and SB = SC, substitute RA with RC and SB with SB in the two equations above. You get:

PA = PR + RC

PB = SP + SC

Now add the two equations above.

PA + PB = PR + RC + SC + PS,

but RC + SC = RS, so you get

PA + PB = PR + RS + SP

Switch sides to get

PR + RS + SP = PA + PB

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