Source: Extra Practice

The number of common tangents to the circles x2+y2=4x^2+y^2=4 and x2+y2−6x−8y=24x^2+y^2-6x-8y=24 is:

Options

Option A is correct

1

Option B

2

Option C

3

Option D

4

Explanation

Let the first circle be S1:x2+y2=4S_1: x^2+y^2=4. Its center is C1=(0,0)C_1=(0,0) and its radius is R1=2R_1=2. Let the second circle be S2:x2+y2−6x−8y=24S_2: x^2+y^2-6x-8y=24. Its center is C2=(−(−6)/2,−(−8)/2)=(3,4)C_2=(-(-6)/2, -(-8)/2) = (3,4). Its radius is R2=32+42−(−24)=9+16+24=49=7R_2 = \sqrt{3^2+4^2 - (-24)} = \sqrt{9+16+24} = \sqrt{49}=7. The distance between the centers d=C1C2=(3−0)2+(4−0)2=9+16=25=5d = C_1C_2 = \sqrt{(3-0)^2+(4-0)^2} = \sqrt{9+16} = \sqrt{25}=5. Now, we compare dd with R1+R2R_1+R_2 and ∣R1−R2∣|R_1-R_2|. R1+R2=2+7=9R_1+R_2 = 2+7 = 9. ∣R1−R2∣=∣2−7∣=5|R_1-R_2| = |2-7| = 5. Since d=∣R1−R2∣d = |R_1-R_2| (i.e., 5=55=5), the two circles touch each other internally. When two circles touch internally, they have exactly one common tangent.