• A tangent is a straight line which touches a circle at only one point.

P This point (P) is called the point of contact.

• The tangent meets the radius drawn to the point of contact at
O right angles.
tangent
• From any external point (T ), two tangents of equal length may be
P drawn to a circle (PT = QT).
• The line joining the external point (T) to the centre of the circle is
an axis of symmetry of this diagram.
T
O

PT and QT are tangents to the circle, centre O. P

PT 16 cm and OTP 25 . 16 cm
Find: 25°
O T
the length of QT a°
x
the size of OTQ
Q

QT PT (equal tangents from an external point)

16 cm
OTQ OTP (the line OT is an axis of symmetry)
25

In the following diagrams, PT and QT are tangents drawn to the circle, centre O. Find the value of each pronumeral.

P P
15 cm x a°
O
P T T
O
O
a° x 14 cm b°
T
Q Q

P P P
12 cm 11 cm x
30° T a° 27°
O a° T O T
32° O a°
x x 18 cm
Q Q Q

P P P
a°

b° 25° 60° b° T d°
a° T O a° c° T c° 65° O
O c°
b°
Q Q
Q

Instant Lessons in Geometry 2 NOTE: DIAGRAMS NOT TO SCALE © Paul Steenson and Blake Education 2007
ISBN 978 1 76020 470 9
 In the following diagrams, PT and QT are tangents drawn to the circle.
Use the properties of isosceles triangles to find the value of each pronumeral.
P P P
a° 9 cm a° a° 14 cm
50° T T 48° T
65°
b° x x
b°
Q Q
Q

P P P
a° 66° b° T a°
x
T b°
7 0° a° 56°
T b°
Q Q 17 cm Q

PT is a tangent to the circle, centre O. Applying Pythagoras’ theorem:

Use Pythagoras’ theorem to calculate the length OT 2 OP 2 PT 2
of the tangent PT. P 132 52 x2
x
5 cm Rearranging: x2 132 52
O 13 cm T x 144
12 cm

Use Pythagoras’ theorem to calculate the distance marked x in each diagram. (O is the centre.)
P
12 cm
9 cm O T 17 cm O
T 26 cm
x T
O 10 cm 15 cm x
x
P P

P P
34 cm T
15 cm 36 cm 21 cm
x O
O O 30 cm
x T x
T 29 cm P

Find the value of each pronumeral.(PT and QT are tangents, O is the centre of the circle.)
P
P x° b°
O c°
25° O
63° O
x° T a° 48°
P T
Q T

P B
y c°
O 26 cm O
b° T O
A b°
x
a° 24 cm a°
T 55° P Q P 36° T

© Paul Steenson and Blake Education 2007 NOTE: DIAGRAMS NOT TO SCALE Instant Lessons in Geometry 2
ISBN 978 1 76020 470 9