PRINCIPLES OF TANGENCY

THE DEFINITION OF A TANGENT

A tangent is a straight line which touches a circle at one point without intersecting it.
The angle between a line drawn from the point of tangency to the centre of the
circle, called a “normal”, and a tangent is 900 .
GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTION OF TANGENTS
DRAW THE TANGENT TO POINT A, ON THE
CIRCUMFERENCE OF A CIRCLE WITH O AS
CENTRE.
Join O to point A, making sure that it exceeds the
circumference of the circle.

Bisect line OA.

This is the required tangent

TO DRAW A TANGENT TO A CIRCLE FROM
ANY POINT OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE
Join O to point A.

Bisect line OA.

With B as our midpoint, draw a semi-circle to

intersect the circle at point C.

Join point C to A.

Line AC is the required tangent

TO DRAW AN EXTERNAL TANGENT TO
TWO CIRCLES. Denote the centres of both circles as A and
B, respectively.
Join line AB. Bisect AB.
With C as the midpoint, draw a semi-circle.
Let the radius of the smaller and bigger
circles be R1 and R2 respectively.
With A as centre, draw an arc DE to
intersect the semi-circle, such that AD = R2 -
R1.
Join A to E, and extend it to the
circumference at point G.
Draw HB parallel to AEG.
Join line HG.
This is the required tangent.
TO DRAW AN INTERNAL TANGENT TO
TWO CIRCLES. Denote the centres of both circles as A and B,
respectively.
Join line AB. Bisect AB.
With C as the midpoint, draw a semi-circle.
Let the radius of smaller and bigger circles be R1
and R2 respectively.
With A as centre, draw an arc DE to intersect the
semi-circle, such that AD = R2 + R1.
Join A to E, such that it touches the circumference
at point H.
Draw BJ parallel to AHE.
Join line HJ.
This is the required tangent.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TANGENCY

There are basically three principles:

TO JOIN AN ARC WITH A STRAIGHT LINE
Construct lines parallel to
the angle formed, at a
distance of radius r, to
intersect at point O.

At point O, draw the

required radius, r.
TO JOIN TWO ARCS EXTERNALLY
Let R be the radius that blends two circles, while 𝑟1
and 𝑟2 are the radii of the smaller and bigger circles,
respectively.

With A as centre, and a radius of R + 𝑟1 , draw an

arc.

With B as centre, and a radius of R + 𝑟2 , draw an

arc.

Both will intersect at point O.

At point O, draw the required radius R.

TO JOIN TWO ARCS INTERNALLY
Let R be the radius that blends two circles, while 𝑟1 and
𝑟2 are the radii of the smaller and bigger circles,
respectively.

With A as centre, and a radius of R - 𝑟1 , draw an arc.

With B as centre, and a radius of R - 𝑟2 , draw an arc.

Both will intersect at point O.

At point O, draw the required radius R.

APPLICATION OF THE ABOVE CONCEPTS.
EXAMPLE 1
STEP 1
STEP 2
EXAMPLE 2
STEP 1
STEP 2
EXAMPLE 3
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
To draw an external
tangent to two circles, use
the principles explained
in the beginning of the
chapter.
EXERCISES

FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
FIG. 5

FIG.6
FIG. 7 FIG. 8
FIG. 9 FIG. 10
FIG. 11
FIG. 12