NAME _____________________________________________ DATE ____________________________ PERIOD _____________

9-6 Study Guide and Intervention

Secants, Tangents, and Angle Measures
Intersections On or Inside a Circle A line that intersects a circle in exactly two points is called a secant. The
measures of angles formed by secants and tangents are related to intercepted arcs.
• If two secants or chords intersect in the interior of a • If a secant (or chord) and a tangent intersect at the
circle, then the measure of the angle formed is one point of tangency, then the measure of each angle
half the sum of the measure of the arcs intercepted by formed is one half the measure of its intercepted arc.
the angle and its vertical angle.
1
̂
m∠ XTV = m𝑇𝑈𝑉
1 2
̂ )
̂ + m𝑄𝑆
m∠ 1 = (m𝑃𝑅
2 ̂
m∠ YTV = 12 m𝑇𝑉

Example 1: Find x. Example 2: Find y.

The two chords intersect inside the The chord and the tangent
circle, so x is equal to one half the intersect at the point of tangency,
sum of the measures of the arcs so the measure of the angle is one
intercepted by the angle and its half the measure of its intercepted
vertical angle. arc.
1
x = 2(30 + 55) 1
y = (168)
2
1
= 2(85) = 84
= 42.5

Exercises
Find each measure. Assume that segments that appear to be tangent are tangent.
1. m∠ 1 46 ̂
2. m𝐺𝐻 62 3. m∠ 3 110

̂
4. m𝑅𝑇 148 5. m∠ 5 70 6. m∠ 6 100

Chapter 9 37 Glencoe Geometry

NAME _____________________________________________ DATE ____________________________ PERIOD _____________

9-6 Study Guide and Intervention (continued)

Secants, Tangents, and Angle Measures
Intersections Outside a Circle If secants and tangents intersect outside a circle, they form an angle whose measure is
related to the intercepted arcs. If two secants, a secant and a tangent, or two tangents intersect in the exterior of a circle,
then the measure of the angle formed is one half the difference of the measures of the intercepted arcs.

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑃𝐸
𝑃𝐵 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ are secants. ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ is a tangent. 𝑄𝐽
𝑄𝐺 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ is a secant. ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑅𝑁
𝑅𝑀 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ are tangents.
1 1 1
m∠ P = (m𝐵𝐸 ̂ )
̂ – m𝐴𝐷 ̂ – m𝐺𝐻
m∠ Q = (m𝐺𝐾𝐽 ̂ ) ̂ – m𝑀𝑁
m∠ R = (m𝑀𝑇𝑁 ̂ )
2 2 2

Example: Find m∠ MPN.

∠ MPN is formed by two secants that intersect in the exterior of a circle.
1
̂)
̂ – m𝑅𝑆
m∠ MPN = (m𝑀𝑁
2
1
= (34 – 18)
2
1
= (16) or 8
2
The measure of the angle is 8.

Exercises
Find each measure. Assume that segments that appear to be tangent are tangent.
1. m∠ 1 20 2. m∠ 2 40

3. m∠ 3 40 ̂
4. m𝐽𝑃 30

̂ 130
5. m𝐿𝑁 6. m∠ V 15

Chapter 9 38 Glencoe Geometry