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Geometry: Circle Tangents Explained

1. A tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius at the point of contact. Two tangents can be drawn to a circle from a point outside the circle, and they are equal in length. 2. The lengths of tangents drawn from an external point to a circle are always equal. This is demonstrated through an example where tangents are drawn from the vertices of an inscribed triangle to a circle touching the triangle's sides. 3. Tangents drawn from an external point to a circle have two properties - they subtend equal angles at the circle's center, and are equally inclined to the segment joining the center to the external point.

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206 views3 pages

Geometry: Circle Tangents Explained

1. A tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius at the point of contact. Two tangents can be drawn to a circle from a point outside the circle, and they are equal in length. 2. The lengths of tangents drawn from an external point to a circle are always equal. This is demonstrated through an example where tangents are drawn from the vertices of an inscribed triangle to a circle touching the triangle's sides. 3. Tangents drawn from an external point to a circle have two properties - they subtend equal angles at the circle's center, and are equally inclined to the segment joining the center to the external point.

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Aditya jain
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Circles

 Concept of tangent at any point of the circle

Theorem: The tangent at any point on a circle is perpendicular to the radius


through the point of contact.

Example:
A tangent AB at a point A of a circle of radius 6 cm meets a line through the
centre O at the point B, such that OB = 10 cm. Find the length of AB.

Solution:

It is known that the tangent at any point on a circle is perpendicular to the radius
through the point of contact.
OA ⊥ AB

By applying Pythagoras theorem in right triangle OAB, we obtain


OA2 + AB2 = OB2
⇒ 62 + AB2 = 102
⇒ AB2 = (100 − 36) cm2
⇒ AB2 = 64 cm2
⇒AB=64 cm2=8 cm

No tangent can be drawn to a circle passing through a point lying inside the
circle.
One and only one tangent can be drawn to a circle passing through a point lying
on the circle.
Exactly two tangents can be drawn to a circle through a point lying outside the
circle.
 Tangent drawn from an external point to a circle

Length of the tangent: The length of the segment of the tangent from an
external point P to the point of contact with the circle is called the length of the
tangent from the point P to the circle.
Theorem: The lengths of tangents drawn from an external point to a circle are
equal.

Example:
In the given figure, a circle is inscribed in ΔABC touching the points, P, Q, and
R.

If AB = 7 cm, BC = 9 cm, CA = 8 cm, then find the measures of AR, AQ, BR,
BP, CP, and CQ.

Solution:
It is known that the lengths of tangents drawn from an external point to a circle
are equal.
AR = AQ = a (say)
BR = BP = b (say)
CP = CQ = c (say)

AB + BC + CA = (7 + 9 + 8) cm = 24 cm

⇒ (a + b) + (b + c) + (c + a) = 24 cm
⇒ 2(a + b + c) = 24 cm
⇒ a + b + c = 12 cm

AB = 7 cm
⇒ a + b = 7 cm
∴ c + 7 cm = 12 cm
⇒ c = (12 − 7) cm = 5 cm

BC = 9 cm
⇒ b + c = 9 cm
⇒ b = 9 − c = (9 − 5) cm = 4 cm

a + b + c = 12 cm
∴ 9 cm + a = 12 cm
⇒ a = (12 − 9) cm = 3 cm

Hence, AR = AQ = 3 cm,
BR = BP = 4 cm,
CP = CQ = 5 cm.

Results: If two tangents are drawn to a circle from an external point, then

1.
1.
2. 1. they subtend equal angles at the centre.
3. 2. they are equally inclined to the segment, joining the centre to that point.

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