Many people have solved the problem Two externally tangent circles have radii of

25 and 9. Find the length of a common external tangent.

In this paper, I will show a much more eloquent proof and formula to find the length
of the common external tangent for two externally tangent circles. The basis of
the proof is similar triangles and the Pythagorean Theorem. I apologize if I go into
too much detail, but I want you to see that this is not the same old idea of solving
by making a rectangle and using the Pythagorean Theorem. Although both ideas get
the same answer (as they should), the rectangle idea never quite reaches the formula
I am presenting.
I will start by letting the two circles have differing radii (if they were the same,
the length would simply be the sum of their radii). Let the little circle have radii r
and the big circle have radii R.
For the following proof, please look at the enclosed picture.
25

C
20

15

10

A
-30

E
-20

-10

10

20

30

40

-5

-10

-15

-20

Since the segment we are looking for is a tangent, it must be perpendicular to the
radius at the point of tangency. By Angle-Angle Similarity, we know that the two
triangles ( ABO and ACP ) are similar. By proportions of similar triangles we
BO AO
know that
=
. Calling BO the radius of the smaller circle, CP the radius of
CP AP
the larger circle, and x the distance between the two circles centers, we have:

r
x
=
R (r + R ) + x
x ( R ) = r (r + R ) + x

Cross Multiplication

Rx = rr + rR + rx

Distributing

Rx rx = r 2 + rR

Subtraction

x ( R r ) = r 2 + rR

Factoring

x=

r 2 + rR
( R r)

Dividing

x=

r ( r + R) r ( R + r )
=
(R r ) (R r )

Solving for x and simplifying.

The next step of the proof involves the Pythagorean Theorem to find AB . Letting
y = AB , for ABO we have:
r (R + r )
2
2

=r +y
R

r
(
)

Pythagorean Theorem

( R+ r)
( R r )2

Subtraction

r = y
2

( R + r )2

2
r

1
= y
2
( R r )

Factor r 2

( R + r ) 2 ( R r )2
2
r
2
2 = y
( R r )
( R r )

Common Denominator

( R + r )2 ( R r )2
2
r
=y
2
(R r )

Subtraction of fractions

) (

) (

R 2 + 2rR + r 2 R 2 2rR + r 2
2
r
= y
2
(R r )

R 2 + 2rR + r 2 + R 2 + 2rR r2
2
r
( R r )2

) = y

) (

Distribute the negative

R 2 + 2rR + r 2 + R2 + 2rR r 2
r

( R r )2

Binomial Expansion

) = y

Canceling opposites

(2rR ) + (2rR)
2
r2
= y
2
( R r )

Simplifying

4rR
2
r2
2 = y
( R r )

Addition

4rR
r2
y2
2 =
( R r)
2 rR
r
=y
(R r )

y=

2r rR
Rr

Square Root

Simplifying

Rewriting

For the last stage of the proof, use the similar triangle proportions again, but this
BO AB
time with AB and AC . Since ABO and ACP are similar,
=
. Let z be the
CP AC
length for which we are looking, namely BC , the external tangent length.
BO AB
r
y
=
means that =
CP AC
R y + BC

2r rR
r
= R r
R 2r rR
+z
R r

Substitution

2r rR

2r rR
r
+ z = R

R r

Rr

Cross Multiplication

2r2 rR
2rR rR
+ rz =
R r
R r

Distribution

2rR rR 2r2 rR

R r
R r

Subtraction

rz =

2rR rR 2r2 rR 1
z=

R r r
R r

Division

2 r R rR 2r 2 rR 1
z=

R r r
Rr

Distribution

z=

2R rR 2r rR

R r
R r

Simplification

z=

2 rR
(R r )
R r

Factorization

z=

2 rR
( R r)
( R r)

Canceling common factors

z = 2 rR

THIS IS THE FORMULA!

The formula to find the length of the common external tangent for two externally
tangent circles is BC = 2 rR !
This is the ALGEBRAIC proof.

Once I saw that the length was twice the geometric mean of the two radii, it begged
the proof GEOMETRICALLY.
This separate proof may be even more elegant.
Since the tangent line tosuuar circle is perpendicular to the radius at the point of
tangency, we know
suur that DE is perpendicular to the segment connecting the two
circles radii. DE must intersect the segment that we are looking for, namely BC ,
at some point. We will call this point D . The tangent segments from a point
outside of a circle to the circle are congruent, so DB DE DC .
The shapes formed by BDEO and CDEP are kites, as there are two pairs of
consecutive congruent sides, but opposite sides are not congruent. This makes the
angles formed by the diagonal connecting the vertex angles congruent. If we call
them x and x for mBDO and mEDO , and y and y for mCDP and mEDP ,
then 2x + 2y = 180. Therefore, x + y = 90. This means that ODP is a right
triangle. This makes the perpendicular distance to the right angle be the geometric
mean of the two parts of the hypotenuse. These two parts happen to be the two
radii. Therefore, DE = r R . But remember that DB DE DC , so DB = r R and
DC = r R . By the segment addition postulate, BC = DB + DC , so
BC = r R + r R = 2 r R .
This is exactly what we are trying to prove.
In many proofs of the problem, the answer stops short of showing that the
distance is twice the geometric mean of the two radii.
I think that my proof is original. I know that it only works for tangent circles, and
that for circles that are not touching, the Pythagorean method is more apparent.
I do think that the connection between the ALGEBRA and GEOMETRY of the proofs
make these great problems to show kids the elegance of mathematics. Plus, the
geometric proof gives connection between geometric mean and tangent segments to
circle.