Question

In the diagram below, JK is tangent to circle M. Answer the following.

Answer 1

From the problem, we can form a right triangle JKM.

where MJ and JK are the legs and MK is the hypotenuse.

MJ = 15

Note that MK = ML + LK

ML = 15 and LK = 24

MK will be :

MK = 15 + 24 = 39

Using pythagorean theorem :

$\begin{gathered} MK^2=MJ^2+JK^2 \\ 39^2=15^2+JK^2 \\ JK^2=39^2-15^2 \\ JK^2=1296 \\ \sqrt[]{JK^2}=\sqrt[]{1296} \\ JK=36 \end{gathered}$

The answer is JK = 36