Question

Point O is the center of the circle. What is the value of x?
PQ is tangent to oo at P.
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Answer 1

x = 15

Explanation:

Since PQ is a tangent then ∠ OPQ is a right angle, that is the angle between a tangent and the radius at the point of contact.

Thus Δ OPQ is right with hypotenuse = 9 + 8 = 17

Using Pythagoras' identity in the right triangle, then

x² + 8² = 17²

x² + 64 = 289 ( subtract 64 from both sides )

x² = 225 ( take the square root of both sides )

x =
`√(225)` = 15