Analyzing the Geometry
Imagine two identical circles symmetric about the y-axis. They intersect at the points (0,1) and (0,−1).
Because the circles are mirror images across the y-axis, their centers must lie on the x-axis. Let the centers be located at (h,0) and (−h,0).
Defining the Circle Equation
The radius squared, r2, is the distance from the center (h,0) to the intersection point (0,1). We calculate this as:
Consequently, the equation for the circle centered at (h,0) is:
Applying the Tangent Condition
We utilize the T=0 method to find the equation of the tangent at the point (0,1). Substituting the point into the circle equation, we obtain:
Expanding and simplifying this expression yields:
Final Calculation
The problem implies that the tangent at (0,1) passes through the center of the other circle, which is located at (−h,0). Substituting these coordinates into our tangent equation:
Since the centers are at (h,0) and (−h,0), the distance between them is 2h. Therefore, the distance between the centers is 2.