解答:证明:(1)∵AB∥CD且AE⊥CD,∴AB⊥AE,∴AE是⊙O的切线;(2)连接AC,根据切割线定理:AE2=ED?EC,设DE=x,则22=x(x+3),解得:x1=1,x2=-4(舍去),即:DE=1,在Rt△ACE中,AC2=AE2+CE2,∴AC2=20,∵∠ACB=∠E,∠CAE=∠B,∴△ACE∽△BAC,∴ AC AB = CE AC ,∴AB=5.