Tangent and Secant Segments

There are several theorems that helped in finding the length of tangent and secant segments.

External segment is the part of secant segment with an end point on

the circle and at the fixed point outside the circle whose points all lie outside

the circle (except the end point on the circle).

MATHEMATICAL CONCEPT:
1. If two chords of a circle intersect, then the product of the measures of segments of one chord is
equal to the product of the measures of the segments of the other chord.

̅̅̅̅
𝑆𝐴 intersect ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐿 at M thus,

SM • IM = AM • LM

EXAMPLE 1

If SM = 5, MI = 6, AM = 3, find LM.

Solution:

SM • IM = AM • LM, substituting the given

(5)(6) = 3(LM)
𝟑𝟎
LM =
𝟑

LM = 10
EXAMPLE 2

If SM = 12, MI = 5, AM = 5, find LM.

Solution:

SM • IM = AM • LM, substituting the given

(12)(5) = 5(LM)
𝟔𝟎
LM = 𝟓

LM = 12

EXAMPLE 3

If SM = 14, LM = 2, AM = 6, find IM.

Solution:

SM • IM = AM • LM, substituting the given

(14) IM = 6(2)
𝟏𝟐
IM = 𝟏𝟒
𝟔
IM =
𝟕

2. If two secant segments are drawn to a circle from an exterior point, then the product of the
lengths of one secant segment and its external secant segment is equal to the product of the
lengths of the other secant segment and its external secant segment.

AC • BC = NC • EC
EXAMPLE 1

If AC = 12, BC = 4, NC = 8, find EC.

Solution:

AC • BC = NC • EC, substituting the given

(12)(4) = (8) EC
𝟒𝟖
EC = 𝟖

EC = 6

EXAMPLE 2

If AC = 15, BC = 6, EC = 8, find NC.

Solution:

AC • BC = NC • EC, substituting the given

(15)(6) = NC(8)
𝟗𝟎
NC = 𝟖

𝟒𝟓
NC =
𝟒

EXAMPLE 3

If AC = 20, NC = 16, EC = 8, find BC.

Solution:

AC • BC = NC • EC, substituting the given

(20)(BC) = (16)(8)
𝟏𝟐𝟖
BC = 𝟐𝟎

𝟑𝟐
BC = 𝟓
 3. If a tangent segment and a secant segment are drawn to a circle from an exterior point, then the
square of the length of the tangent segment is equal to the product of the lengths of the secant
segment and its external secant segment.

(𝑭𝑶)𝟐 = RO • UO

EXAMPLE 1

If RO = 15 and UO = 8, find FO.

Solution:

(𝑭𝑶)𝟐 = RO • UO, substituting the given

(𝑭𝑶)𝟐 = (15)(8)

(𝑭𝑶)𝟐 = 120

FO = √𝟏𝟐𝟎

FO = 2√𝟑𝟎

EXAMPLE 2

If FO = 20, RO = 25, find UO.

Solution:

(𝑭𝑶)𝟐 = RO • UO, substituting the given

(𝟐𝟎)𝟐 = 25(UO)
𝟒𝟎𝟎
UO = 𝟐𝟓

JO = 16
ACTIVITY 11
Find the length of the unknown segment (x) of the following figures.

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9. 10.