* Concept of Tangent Circles

and Common Tangents

Atangent circleis a line in the plane of the

circle that intersects the circle in exactly one
point. Tangent circles may be tangent either
internally or externally.

*Tangent Circle

Tangent circles are tangent internally if one lies in the interior of

the other (except for the point of tangency). Tangent circles are
tangent externally if each lies in the exterior of the other (except
for the point of tangency). The figure below shows tangent circles
with external and internal tangents.
P
P

ExternallytangentcirclesInternallytangentcircles

Common tangents are lines or segments that are

tangent to more than one circle at the same
time.

*Common Tangent

A common tangent can be tangent either internally or

externally. A commoninternal tangentis a common tangent
that intersects the segment that joins the center of the
two circles. A commonexternal tangentis a common
tangent that does not intersect the segment that joins the
centers of the two circles. In the figure below, L1 is the
common internal tangent while L2 is a common external
tangent.
L2

fig.1
Two circles may also be tangent to each other.

* 0 Common Tangents
(2 concentric circles)
Concentric circles are circles
with the same center.
A

0 external tangents
0 internal tangents

(one circle floating inside the

other, without touching)
B
0
A

0 external tangents
0 internal tangents

* 1 Common Tangent
(2 internally tangent circles)

1external tangent (blue)

0 internal tangents

* 2 Common Tangents
(2 overlapping circles)

2 external tangents (blue)

0 internal tangents

* 3 Common Tangents
(2 externally tangent circles)

2 external tangents (blue)

1 internal tangent (black)

* 4 Common Tangents
(2 completely separate circles)

A
B

2 external tangents (blue)

2 internal tangents (black)

*Project In Mathematics
Submitted by:
Vincent Yalong
&
Ellaine Marcelo
Submitted to:
Maam Rodelyn A. Urbi