Externally tangent circles with centers at points $A$ and $B$ have radii of lengths $3$ and $1,$ respectively. A line externally tangent to both circles intersects ray $AB$ at point $C$, where $B$ is on $\overline{AC}$. What is the length $BC$?
Let BC = x
Triangles AEC and BDC are similar
BC / BD = AC / AE
x / 1 = (4 + x) / 3
3x = 4 + x
2x = 4
x = 2 = BC
{ DC = sqrt (BC^2 - BD^2) = sqrt ( 2^2 - 1^2) = sqrt (3)
tan(angle DCB) = - ( BD / DC) = -1/sqrt (3)
Equation of tangent line : y = (-1/sqrt 3) ( x -6) }