CIRCLE • CIRCLE • CIRCLE
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Two Concentric Circles, Third Circle Intersecting Inner Circle
Number of solutions: 4
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Steps
- The centers of circles tangent to both concentric circles lie on circles that are also concentric with the given circles. It is therefore sufficient to find just one point on such a circle. We construct a line passing through the center of the concentric circles and find the intersections of this line with the concentric circles.
- The circles on which the centers of circles tangent to both concentric circles lie pass through the midpoint of segment AB and the midpoint of segment AC. On one circle lie the centers of circles that are externally tangent to circle k2, on the other lie those that are internally tangent to it.
- Circles that are externally tangent to circle k2 have a radius equal to the distance AS'. Their centers therefore lie at this distance from circle k1.
- Circles that are internally tangent to circle k2 have a radius equal to the distance AS''. Their centers therefore lie on a circle concentric with circle k1. Its radius is the difference between the distance AS'' and the radius of k1.
- The problem has four solutions.