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A point P moves in the plane so that the length of the tangent drawn…

Question

A point P moves in the plane so that the length of the tangent drawn from P to the circle x^2 + y^2 = 25 is exactly twice the length of the tangent drawn from P to the circle (x-10)^2 + (y-5)^2 = 4. The locus of P is a circle. If the square of the radius of this locus circle equals m/n in lowest terms, find m+n.

✓ Verified answer: 482checked by our engine — not a guess

Step-by-step solution

The squared tangent length from P(x,y) to a circle S=0 equals S(P). So:
- to circle 1: t1 = x^2+y^2-25
- to circle 2: t2 = (x-10)^2+(y-5)^2-4
The condition (tangent to C1) = 2*(tangent to C2) gives, on squaring, t1 = 4 t2:
x^2+y^2-25 = 4[(x-10)^2+(y-5)^2-4].
Expand the right side: 4[x^2-20x+100 + y^2-10y+25 -4] = 4x^2+4y^2 -80x -40y +484.
So x^2+y^2-25 - (4x^2+4y^2-80x-40y+484) = 0 => -3x^2 -3y^2 +80x +40y -509 = 0.
Divide by -3: x^2 + y^2 - (80/3)x - (40/3)y + 509/3 = 0.
Centre = (40/3, 20/3). Radius^2 = (40/3)^2 + (20/3)^2 - 509/3 = 1600/9 + 400/9 - 1527/9 = 473/9.
So m/n = 473/9 (already lowest terms), and m+n = 473+9 = 482.

Final answer482

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