Question

Segment WC is tangent to circle O at point W.

CO¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯, CW¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯, and OW¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ are drawn in to create △OWC.

If WC=15 and CO=17, what is OW?

Answer 1

Answer:

8 units.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is given that segment WC is tangent to circle O at point W.

WC=15 and CO=17.

We need to find the measure of OW.

We know that radius are perpendicular to the tangents at the point of tangency.

$\angle W=90^\circ$

Using Pythagoras theorem in △OWC.

$Perpendicular^2+base^2=hypotenuse^2$

$OW^2+WC^2=CO^2$

$OW^2+15^2=17^2$

$OW^2+225=289$

$OW^2=289-225$

$OW^2=64$

Taking square root on both sides.

$OW=\sqrt{64}$

$OW=8$

Therefore, the measure of OW is 8 units.