jmc

For this problem, we can use similar triangles to find the point $Q$. First we draw the radius from the center to the point of tangency on each circle. We have created two right triangles, since we know that a tangent line is perpendicular to the radius at a point of tangency. We also know that $\angle AQB\cong \angle DQC$ since vertical angles are congruent. Since the right angles and vertical angles are congruent, $△AQB\sim △DQC$ by the AA Similarity Theorem (if two pairs of corresponding angles are congruent, the triangles are similar triangles). If $b$ and $c$ represent the hypotenuses, we can set up a proportion since the ratio of two corresponding sides is constant. $$\frac{b}{c}=\frac{1}{2}\Rightarrow c=2b$$We also know that $b+c=6$, since the distance from $A$ to $D$ is 6 units. So we have $b+2b=6$, which means $b=2$. Two units to the right of $A$ is $(7,0)$, so $a=\boxed{7}$.