CONSTRUCTION

S
OF
TANGENTS

Given a point outside a circle, construct a

tangent to the circle from the given point.
PROCEDURE:

Given: point A not on circle O

1) Draw OA.

2) Find the midpoint M of

OA (perpendicular bisector
of OA)
3) Construct a 2nd circle
with center M and radius
MA
4) So you get points of
tangency at X & Y where
the arcs intersect the red
circle
5)
Draw tangents
& AY
Construct
Construct
arcs
arcs1&
3&24AX
using
using
a
suitable
theradius
same greater
radius than
(greaterAO
than AO)
( keep
You this
get arcs
radius
5&
for6 the
next step)

Given a triangle construct the

circumscribed circle.
Given: Triangle ABC
B

A
8
5

PROCEDURE:

6 1) Construct the perpendicular

1
bisectors of the sides of the
triangle and label the point of
Bisect
From point
segment
B construct
BC; Using
arcs
a
intersection
F.
2)
yourdraw
compass
radius
7 &Set
8 and
greater
than
a line
1/2BC
pointer
to point
F and arcs
from
connecting
point
Cthe
construct
5the
intersections
& 6radius to measure
of the arcs
FC.
F radi
3) Draw the circle with
us
C center F , that passes
through
the vertices A, B,
Now construct
the perpendicular
&C
bisector
of segment
andalabel
Bisect segment
AC; AB
Using
radius
From
point
A construct
arcs
3&4
point
F,
where
the
3
lines
meet.
greater than 1/2AC from point C
and draw a line connecting the
construct arcs 1 & 2
intersections of the arcs
2

Given a triangle construct the inscribed

circle.
PROCEDURE:

Given: Triangle ABC

B

1) Construct the angle

bisectors of angles A, B, &
C, to get a point of
intersection
2) Construct and
a call it F
perpendicular to side AC
from point F, and label this
point
3) PutG.
your pointer on point

F and set your radius to FG.

A
X

C
Y

4) Draw the circle using F as

the center and it should be
tangent to all the sides of
the triangle.