Two circles tangent to each other and tangent to a line

geometry

Two circles with centers $A$ and $B$ are externally tangent at point $C$.
tangent to the two circles. Given that the radii of the two circles are $2cm$ and $3cm$, respectively, find $\frac{DC}{FC}$

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Best Answer

Adjusting Matthew's figure:

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Use Cosine theorem: $$\frac{FC}{DC}=\frac{\sqrt{3^2+3^2-2\cdot 3^2\cdot \cos \beta}}{\sqrt{2^2+2^2-2\cdot 2^2\cdot \cos (180^\circ-\beta)}}=\sqrt{\frac{18-18\cdot \frac15}{8+8\cdot \frac15}}=\sqrt{\frac32}.$$ Note: $\cos \beta =\frac{BE}{AB}=\frac{FB-FE}{AC+BC}=\frac{FE-AD}{AC+BC}=\frac{3-2}{2+3}=\frac15$.