3x – y + c = 0 ……(i)
Given equation of circle is $x^2+y^2-2 x+8 y-23=0$
Comparing this equation with $x^2+y^2+2 g x+2 f y+c=0$, we get
2g = -2, 2f = 8, c = -23
g = -1, f = 4, c = -23
The centre of the circle is C(1, -4)
and its radius $=\sqrt{1+16+23}$
= √40
= 2√10
Since line (i) is a tangent to this circle the perpendicular distance from C(1, -4) to line (i) is equal to radius r.
$\begin{aligned} & \left|\frac{3(1)+4+c}{\sqrt{9+1}}\right|=2 \sqrt{ } 10 \\ & \Rightarrow\left|\frac{7+c}{\sqrt{10}}\right|=2 \sqrt{ } 10 \\ & \Rightarrow(7+c)= \pm 20 \\ & \Rightarrow 7+c=20 \text { or } 7+c=-20 \\ & \Rightarrow c=13 \text { or } c=-27\end{aligned}$
∴ Equations of the tangents are 3x – y + 13 = 0 and 3x – y – 21 = 0

