Question

If two circles touch externally, how many common tangents can be drawn to them?​

Answer 1

Answer:

3 common tangents

If the circles touch each other externally, then they will have 3 common tangents, two direct and one transverse. The tangent in between can be thought of as the transverse tangents coinciding together. If the circles intersect each other, then they will have 2 common tangents, both of them will be direct