A Secant is drawn from a point P to a circle so that it meets the circle first at A, then goes through the center. If the length of the tangent from P to the circle is 16 cm, and the radius of the circle is 12 cm, then the distance from P to A is?

8 cm

OT ⊥ TP  (∠OTP = 90°)

Using triplets = 12, 16, 20

OP = 20 cm

PA = OP - OA = 20 - 12 = 8 cm