Chapter 14, Problem 32RP

To determine

To construct a common external tangent.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

The two circles.

Calculation:

Thecommon external tangent to two circles can be constructed as follows-

  

The construction has the following steps-

Step 1- first of all the circle OJS is constructed so that $JL=FP$

Step 2- now, construct the tangent $PJ$ from the point P to the circle.

Step 3- The desired tangent FL is parallel to the tangent PJ and this is common for both the circles.