Question

A point p is 13cm from the centre of circle the length of the tangent drawn from point p to the circle is 12cm. Find the distance of p from nearest point of the circle

Answer 1

as the distance from the circle to point P is 12cm but from center is13 so it is 12 cm

Answer 2

I am sorry I can't Post a picture of solution but Hope you can understand this,

Tangent is always perpendicular to radius of a circle,

=> Radius² + Length of Tangent ² = Distance of point p from centre ²,
=> Radius² + 144 cm² = 169 cm²,
=> Radius² = 25 cm²,
=> Radius = 5 cm,

The distance of p from the nearest point of circle is (Distance of P from centre - Radius of Circle ) , Because Always the nearest point lies on the circle and the nearest point can be calculated by above formula,

=> Distance of P from nearest point = 13 - 5 cm = 8 cm,

So the answer is 8 cm, 
Hope yo understand, Have a great day !