Circle And System Of Circles Question 290

Question: An infinite number of tangents can be drawn from (1, 2) to the circle $ x^{2}+y^{2}-2x-4y+\lambda =0 $ , then $ \lambda = $

[MP PET 1989]

Options:

A) - 20

B) 0

C) 5

D) Cannot be determined

Show Answer

Answer:

Correct Answer: C

Solution:

Clearly the point (1, 2) is the centre of the given circle and infinite tangents can only be drawn on a point circle.

Hence radius should be 0.
$ \therefore ,\sqrt{1^{2}+2^{2}-\lambda }=0\Rightarrow \lambda =5 $ .