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39 votes
39 votes
Find an equation for the line tangent to the circle

x2 + y2 = 100
at the point
(8, −6).

User AitorF
by
2.8k points

1 Answer

25 votes
25 votes
First, this circle has center at the origin with a radius of 10. Draw this picture.
Second, plot the point (-6,8) on the circle.
Third, draw a radius from the origin to this point. You should be able to determine the SLOPE of this radius. Since slope is -8/6, this reduces to -4/3.
Fourth, use the point-slope form to find the equation:
y - y1 = m ( x - x1)
y - 8 = -4/3 ( x - -6 )
y - 8 = -4/3 ( x + 6 ) This is the Point-Slope form of the equation.
Fifth, sometimes the question specifies the Slope-Intercept form of the equation. If that is the case, then you only have 2 steps left. First, distribute the -4/3 on the right side of the equation.
y - 8 = -4/3(x) + 8 Now, we isolate the "y" by adding 8 to both sides of the equation.
+8 +8
_________________
y = -4/3(x) + 16
User Jomar Sevillejo
by
3.3k points