Q.From an external point located 17 cm away from the center of a circle with a diameter of 16 cm, what is the length of the tangent drawn to the circle?
OB ⊥ AB and OA = 17 cm, OB = \( \frac{16}{2} \) cm = 8 cm
∴ OB² + AB² = OA²
i.e., 8² + AB² = 17²
i.e., AB² = 289 − 64 = 225
i.e., AB = √225 = 15
∴ The length of the tangent drawn to the circle is 15 cm.