[Math] Two circles intersecting, common tangent

circlesgeometric transformationgeometrypower-of-the-pointtangent line

Two circles intersecting in $A$ and $B$. They have a common tangent, with point $P$ on circle one and point $Q$ on circle two. Prove that the line through $A$ and $B$ cuts the line $PQ$ by half.

enter image description here

Best Answer

Let $R$ be the intersection of the line $PQ$ and the line $AB$. Then by the Tangent-Secant Theorem $$|PR|^2=|RA|\cdot|RB|=|RQ|^2.$$

Related Question