Problem

JK and JL are tangent to the circle. Find the length of JL.

Answer

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Answer

Answer: BL=6

Steps

Step 1 :Let O be the center of the circle, JK and JL are tangent to the circle at points A and B, respectively.

Step 2 :By the tangent and radius theorem, OAJ=OBL=90. Hence, OJ is the geometric mean of JA and JL.

Step 3 :Apply the Pythagorean theorem to triangle ΔOAJ: OJ2=OA2AJ2

Step 4 :Apply the Pythagorean theorem to triangle ΔOBL: OJ2=OB2BL2

Step 5 :Set the two equations equal to each other: OA2AJ2=OB2BL2

Step 6 :Plug in the given values: (10)2(8)2=(10)2BL2

Step 7 :Solve the equation for BL: BL2=36

Step 8 :Take the square root to find the length of JL: BL=36

Step 9 :Answer: BL=6

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