Circle And System Of Circles Question 108

Question: If the lines $ 3x-4y+4=0 $ and $ 6x-8y-7=0 $ are tangents to a circle, then the radius of the circle is

[IIT 1984; MP PET 1994, 2002; RPET 1995, 97; Kurukshetra CEE 1998]

Options:

A) 3/2

B) 3/4

C) 1/10

D) 1/20

Show Answer

Answer:

Correct Answer: B

Solution:

The diameter of the circle is perpendicular distance between the parallel lines (tangents) $ 3x-4y+4=0 $ and $ 3x-4y-\frac{7}{2}=0 $ and so it is equal to $ \frac{4}{\sqrt{9+16}}+\frac{7/2}{\sqrt{9+16}}=\frac{3}{2} $ .

Hence radius is $ \frac{3}{4} $ .