For problems involving max/min distances between points on circles ($|z-c_1|=r_1, |z-c_2|=r_2$), the key values are the distance between centers $d=|c_1-c_2|$, and the radii $r_1, r_2$. The max distance is $d+r_1+r_2$ and min distance is $|d-r_1-r_2|$ if they are exterior. For other configurations, a careful geometric or algebraic approach is needed.