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laxieqv
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laxieqv
In the xy plane, the diameter of one circle is 4 (the center of this circle is at (0,0)), one line is tangent to the circle at (-sqrt(2), sqrt(2)). What is the slope of this line?

A -1
B 1
C 2
D -2
E sqrt(2)


slope of the line from (-sqrt(2), sqrt(2)) to th eorigin is -1. the slope of the line that is perpendicular to the line with -1 slope is 1.
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laxieqv
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buddies, you will hit the 7XX range~ :wink:
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Lol, could you super geniuses slow down for a sec and explain this trick to me ? Im not sure when the perpendicular parts comes into play.

Thanks !
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laxieqv
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pmenon
Lol, could you super geniuses slow down for a sec and explain this trick to me ? Im not sure when the perpendicular parts comes into play.

Thanks !


Yeah, the trick is that the tangent line must be perpendicular to the radius drawn from the origin of the circle to the tangent point of the circle and the line. Why? If you want to know, you can refer to my proving :)
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Alternatively

The tangent and the circle have only one point in common P(-sqrt2, sqrt2).

The line between O and P has to be perpendicular to T (tangent), because otherwise T wouldn't be a tangent, but a secant.



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