Geometry Week 15 - 2689 Introduction To Geometry

11/22/21, 9:09 PM 2689 Introduction to Geometry
Introduction to Geometry (2689)

Achilleas Sinefakopoulos
Friday
Apr 30, 2021 - Oct 8, 2021
7:30 - 9:00 PM ET (4:30 - 6:00 PM PT)
Overview
Week 15 (Aug 6) Class Transcript - Tangents
< Go back to the class overview page
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Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:29:16
Hi, everyone!
dan09
2021-08-06 19:29:44
Hi!
CalvinGarces
2021-08-06 19:29:44
HELLO!
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:29:44
hello
Sunshine2016
2021-08-06 19:29:44
Hi!
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 19:29:44
hi!
Sarah010
2021-08-06 19:29:44
Hi
Bluepantzola1
2021-08-06 19:29:44
hi
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:29:44
hi.
Siella
2021-08-06 19:29:44
hello
JC0001
2021-08-06 19:29:44
hii
Suraahi
2021-08-06 19:29:44
Hello!
grayspider
2021-08-06 19:29:44
Hello!
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:29:47
Hello! Class will begin shortly. Let's take a moment to review what we learned last time.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:29:51
We started off learning a lot of cool relationships between angles and arcs.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:29:57
Most importantly, we looked at inscribed angles, those whose sides are two chords:
https://artofproblemsolving.com/class/2689-intro-geometry/transcript/40743 1/39
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:30:03

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:30:07
We learned that the measure of an inscribed angle is half the measure of the arc it intercepts.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:30:13
We then extended these results to some other angles:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:30:14

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:30:14

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:30:18
1
In particular, relative to the labeling shown above, when the angle is outside the circle, we proved that ∠A =
2
(x − y). And when
the angle is inside the circle, we proved that ∠A
1
= (x + y).
2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:30:28
Sometimes if I forget these formulas, I draw myself an easy case like a right angle to check.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:30:39
With that, let's return to looking at the way lines and circles can interact.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:30:43
Introduction to Geometry
Week 15: Tangents
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:31:00
Today we'll discuss several important relationships regarding a line that is tangent to a circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:31:08
By definition, a line is tangent to a circle if it touches the circle in exactly one point.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:31:13

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:31:19
In the diagram, line m is tangent to circle O at point B. (We call point B the point of tangency.)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:31:32
What appears to be true about line m and radius OB of the circle?
dan09
2021-08-06 19:32:00
Radius OB is perpendicular to line m
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 19:32:00
they are perpendicular
pwr
2021-08-06 19:32:00
grayspider
2021-08-06 19:32:00
They are perpendicular to each other.
CalvinGarces
2021-08-06 19:32:00
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:32:00
they are perpendicular!!!
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 19:32:00
They look like they're perpendicular.
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:32:00
they appear to form a right angle
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:32:04
It looks like the radius to the point of tangency is perpendicular to the tangent line. In other words, it looks like radius OB and line
m are perpendicular.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:32:17
You know the drill . . .
Suraahi
2021-08-06 19:32:43
Let's prove it!!!
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 19:32:43
prove it
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 19:32:43
prove it!
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:32:43
we have to prove it
CalvinGarces
2021-08-06 19:32:43
PROVE IT!
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:32:43
Prove it!!!
Sunshine2016
2021-08-06 19:32:43
We need to prove it!
dan09
2021-08-06 19:32:43
Let's prove it!
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 19:32:43
we have to prove it
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 19:32:43
Prove it!
grayspider
2021-08-06 19:32:43
We have to prove it!
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:32:47
We have to prove it. In fact, let's prove a bit more.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:32:50
Let's prove that line m is tangent to circle O at point B if and only if line m is perpendicular to radius OB.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:32:59
This is one of those facts in mathematics that seems obvious, but is very hard to prove.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:33:05
(Sometimes this is taken to be the definition of what it means for a line to be tangent to a circle. Here, we'll prove this result
starting from the definition of a tangent line as a line that touches the circle at exactly one point.)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:33:17
First, let's prove that if m is tangent to circle O at point B, then m is perpendicular to radius OB.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:33:25

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:33:36
To prove that m is perpendicular to radius OB, some people might be tempted to say something like "the diagram is the same on
both sides of radius OB, so the angles on both sides of B must be the same."
dan09
2021-08-06 19:33:58
That assumes what we are trying to prove...
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:34:00
Unfortunately, this approach assumes what we want to prove when we write "the diagram is the same on both sides of radius OB,"
so this is not a valid proof.
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:34:19
It's very difficult to directly prove this.....
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:34:24
Instead, we'll have to take an indirect approach, by showing that it's impossible for the angle between radius OB and m to be
anything but 90 degrees.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:34:37
That is, we'll prove that if the angle between radius OB and a line m is not 90 degrees, then m is not actually tangent to the circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:34:51
Suppose the angle between radius OB and m is not 90 degrees. Then what are we trying to prove? What do we have to show to
prove that m is not tangent to the circle?
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 19:36:01
that m intersects the circle at 2 points
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:36:01
It must intersect the circle twice!!!
dan09
2021-08-06 19:36:01
That it intersects the line more than once
Sunshine2016
2021-08-06 19:36:01
It touches the circle in MORE than one point
Suraahi
2021-08-06 19:36:01
That m touches the circle at more than one place
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 19:36:01
We have to show that it touches the circle in two places.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:36:04
If the angle between radius OB and m is not 90 degrees, then we want to prove that line m must hit the circle a second time, so
that it is not tangent to the circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:36:18
To begin with, we note that if radius OB is not perpendicular to m, then there is some point C on m such that ∠OBC is acute
(indeed, there's an entire half line of such C's). One particular such point C is illustrated in the diagram below:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:36:33

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:36:44
We can see an apparent second point of intersection in this diagram. But a diagram is not a proof. How can we prove that point is
really there?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:37:03
What else might we draw?
Sunshine2016
2021-08-06 19:37:43
another line?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:38:04
Sure. Which line should we draw?
CalvinGarces
2021-08-06 19:38:42
a line perpendicular to line m from O
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:38:42
The line that goes through O and is perpendicular to line m.
GarudS
2021-08-06 19:38:42
a line OX which has the property OX ⊥ m .
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:38:42
line perpendicular to m starting at point O
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:38:57
Because radius OB is not perpendicular to m, there is some other point D on m such that segment OD is perpendicular to m.
(Indeed, just drop the altitude from point O to line m. The point D is the foot of that altitude.)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:39:03

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:39:21
We know OD < OB because segment OD is opposite an acute angle and radius OB is opposite a right angle. Since OB is a
radius and OD < OB, D is inside the circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:39:29
Now, can we use point D to find another point on m that we can show must be on the circle?
dan09
2021-08-06 19:41:32
Reflect B across D on line m
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 19:41:32
the point that maps B under reflection over DO
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:41:32
construct a point F on line m so that BD=DF.
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 19:41:32
Yes, we could mark a point on m so that D to that point has length BD.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:41:38
We take the point F on m such that D is the midpoint of segment BF . (We can not assume that this point is on the circle! We
want to prove this.)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:41:49

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:41:56
How can we prove that point F is on the circle?
Sarah010
2021-08-06 19:42:39
we can prove that OB=OF
dan09
2021-08-06 19:42:39
Prove that OF = OB
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:42:39
FO=BO= radius of the circle so F must be on the circle
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:42:48
How do we prove that OF = OB ?
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 19:43:41
by proving that triangles DBO and DFO are congruet
pwr
2021-08-06 19:43:41
triangles BDO and FDO are congruent
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:43:41
triangle BDO congruent to triangle FDO by SAS
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:43:41
Triangles BDO and FDO are congruent by SAS congruence, so OB=OF
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 19:43:41
SAS or LL congruence for triangles BDO and FDO
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:44:00
(we do not know that OF is a radius)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:44:12
We have BD = DF , ∠BDO and OD so by SAS we have △BDO
∘
= ∠F DO = 90 = OD, ≅ △F DO.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:44:25
Because △BDO and △F DO are congruent, we know that OB = OF . In other words, we have proven that F is on the circle,
since the circle is the set of all points equidistant from O.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:44:46
So we have shown, by constructing the point F , that if the angle between radius OB and m is less than 90∘ , then m hits the circle
twice.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:44:54
By the way, we call lines that hit a circle twice secants. So we proved that if line m does not meet radius OB at a right angle, then
m is a secant to the circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:45:11
Thus we have shown that if a radius of a circle meets a line at a point on the circumference of the circle, and the angle between the
line and the radius is not 90 degrees, then the line hits the circle a second time.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:45:18
But we still have to prove the converse: that a line that makes a 90 degree angle with a radius is tangent to the circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:45:23

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:45:28
How can we prove that m in the diagram above is indeed tangent to the circle? What does that even mean?
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 19:46:33
m can only touch the circle at one point to be tangent
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:46:33
tangent means the line hits the circle in only one point
hchhaya
2021-08-06 19:46:33
tangent means that the line meets the circle at one point
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:46:33
It means that line m hits the circle in one place.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:46:37
We have to show that the line does not pass through any other point on the circle. How do we do so?
dan09
2021-08-06 19:47:13
Construct a point C on line m that is not B, then show that C does not lie on the circle
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:47:17
Let's take any other point C on m besides B. We want to prove C can't be on the circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:47:18

Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:47:24
show that any other points on m would be farther than the radius away from O
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:47:26
How do we know that C is not on the circle?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:47:33
That is, how do we know that OC can't be the same as OB?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:48:16
(what is "it", and why "it" is longer/shorter?)
dan09
2021-08-06 19:49:40
Because OC is the hypotenuse of a right triangle, it must be greater than the leg, OB
tkubota
2021-08-06 19:49:40
because CO is a hypotenuse of a right triangle, which has to be greater then the legs
grayspider
2021-08-06 19:49:40
By the Pythagorean theorem, OC > OB.
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 19:49:40
BCO is a right triangle and OC is the hypotenuse so it is longer than OB
Suraahi
2021-08-06 19:49:40
By constructing right triangle OBC, we see that OC is inherently longer than OB because OC is the hypotenuse and OB is a leg.
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 19:49:40
OC is longer than OB because OC is the hypotenuse of the right triangle OBC
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:49:40
OC is longer than BO because OC is the hypotenuse and BO is a leg of a right triangle
hchhaya
2021-08-06 19:49:40
OC is longer than OB because the hypotenuse of a triangle is always the longest length of a triangle.
cwc28
2021-08-06 19:49:40
OC is longer than OB because it is the hypotenuse of right triangle OBC and OB is a leg
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 19:49:40
We know that OC is the hypotenuse and OB is the leg of a right triangle, thus OC is longer than OB
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:49:48
Triangle OBC is a right triangle, so we can use the Pythagorean Theorem to see that OC 2 = BC 2 + OB2 . Therefore, OC is
longer than OB. Therefore, C cannot be on the circle, since its distance from O is larger than the radius of the circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:50:04
There's nothing special about point C ; we can use this argument for any point on m besides B. Therefore, we've shown that if
radius OB of circle O is perpendicular to line m at B, then line m only hits the circle at one point (point B). Therefore, line m is
tangent to the circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:50:13
Phew, that was quite a laborious proof! But we've now shown a useful and important fact:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:50:16

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:50:17
Line BC is perpendicular to radius OB of circle O if and only if line BC is tangent to the circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:50:25
We'll be using this fact again and again and again.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:50:28
Let's see how.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:50:34
First, we'll continue our discussion of angles and circles from last week by looking at angles formed by tangents and other lines.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:50:39

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:50:43
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Suppose that line m is tangent to the given circle at point A, chord AB meets m at point A, and Z is a point on m not equal to A.
How is ∠ZAB related to arc AB?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:51:15
(use parentheses, if needed)
pwr
2021-08-06 19:52:02
<ZAB is half the measure of arc AB
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 19:52:02
angle ZAB is half arc AB
dan09
2021-08-06 19:52:02
∠ZAB is half of arc AB
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:52:02
arcAB
angle ZAB= 2
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:52:02
<ZAB=(arc AB)/2....
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:52:09
1
We seem to think that ∠ZAB = (arc AB). What should we add to this diagram to help us prove this fact?
2
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:52:42
a diameter!!!
Sarah010
2021-08-06 19:52:42
a diameter
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:52:51
Which diameter should we draw?
pwr
2021-08-06 19:53:38
a diameter from A
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:53:38
draw diameter AC
Suraahi
2021-08-06 19:53:38
From A
CalvinGarces
2021-08-06 19:53:38
one from A
GarudS
2021-08-06 19:53:38
AC
Suraahi
2021-08-06 19:53:38
Draw a diameter from A to a point C
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 19:53:38
A diameter that meets at point A
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 19:53:38
The diameter through point A.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:53:48
We draw the diameter with A as an endpoint.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:53:55

Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:53:57
What do we know about diameter AX?
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 19:55:26
diameter AX is perpendicular to m
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:55:26
it is perpendicular to line m.
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 19:55:26
It is perpendicular to line m.
GarudS
2021-08-06 19:55:26
AX ⊥ AZ
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 19:55:26
diameter AX is perpendicular to line m
Sarah010
2021-08-06 19:55:26
AX is perpendicular to line m
CalvinGarces
2021-08-06 19:55:26
it bisects the circle and is perpendicular to line m
grayspider
2021-08-06 19:55:26
AX is perpendicular to the tangent m.
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 19:55:26
AX is perpendicular to line m, or segment AZ
ReaderB
2021-08-06 19:55:26
AX is perpendicular to AZ
ReaderB
2021-08-06 19:55:26
AX is perpendicular to line m
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:55:38
Because AX is a diameter and m is a tangent, diameter AX and m are perpendicular. What strategy can we now use to find
∠ZAB?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:56:55
How can we rewrite ∠ZAB?
grayspider
2021-08-06 19:58:27
∘
∠ZAB = 90 − ∠XAB
Hridhaan
2021-08-06 19:58:27
<ZAB = 90 degrees - <XAB
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 19:58:27
∠ZAB = 90º – ∠XAB
tkubota
2021-08-06 19:58:27
∘
∠ZAB = 90 − ∠XAB
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:58:33
Because ∠ZAX is 90 degrees, we have ∠ZAB = 90
∘
− ∠BAX. So we just need to find ∠BAX. What do we know about
∠BAX?
iejake
2021-08-06 19:59:26
it is half of arc BX
pwr
2021-08-06 19:59:26
its measure is half of arc BX
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 19:59:26
<BAX=(arc BX)/2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 19:59:29
Because ∠BAX is inscribed in arc BX, we have ∠BAX So, we now have ∠ZAB
1 ∘ 1
= (arc BX). = 90 − (arc BX).
2 2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:00:00
(note that \arc does not render; use the word "arc" or \text{arc })
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:00:12
Now we wanted to relate ∠ZAB to arc AB, but at the moment we have arc BX instead. How can we relate arc BX to arc AB?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:00:42
(use degrees where needed)
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:01:18
arc BX=180 degrees-arc AB
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:01:18
arc BX= 180 degrees-arc AB
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 20:01:18
Arc BX + arc AB = 180 degrees
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:01:18
arc BX = 180º – arc AB
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:01:22
Since AX is a diameter, arc BX
∘
= 180 − arc AB.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:01:26
1
Therefore, ∠ZAB
∘ ∘
= 90 − (180 − arc AB).
2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:01:46
This simplifies to ∠ZAB as desired.
1
= (arc AB),
2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:02:00
So, the angle formed by a tangent and a chord is half the arc intercepted by the angle, just like with inscribed angles. (This
shouldn't be surprising, as tangents are essentially extreme versions of secants or chords. Or you can think of them as secants or
chords in which the two points that the line hits the circle are the same point.) For this reason, sometimes these angles are also
called inscribed angles.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:02:25
We'll look at two more quick angle problems to highlight a couple more tangent angle relationships.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:02:28
Find x in the following diagram:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:02:29

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:02:38
We saw something similar to this last week, but with two secants instead of a secant and a tangent. If we had a situation like this
with two secants instead of a secant and a tangent, how would x be related to the two intercepted arcs?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:02:47

Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:03:23
the difference of the arcs divided by 2
pwr
2021-08-06 20:03:23
(bigger arc-smaller arc)/2
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:03:23
x=(big arc-little arc)/2
iejake
2021-08-06 20:03:23
it is half the difference of the two intercepted arcs
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:03:32
x = (larger arc – smaller arc)/2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:03:34
We saw last week that when two secants meet outside the circle, the angle they form is half of the difference between the
intercepted arcs. It turns out that this formula also works when you have a secant and a tangent.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:04:08
What is the measure of the missing arc?
pwr
2021-08-06 20:05:03
90 degrees
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:05:03
90º
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:05:03
90 degrees
iejake
2021-08-06 20:05:03
90 degrees
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:05:03
360º - 160º - 110º = 90º
Sunshine2016
2021-08-06 20:05:03
90º
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 20:05:03
.
∘
90
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:05:03
∘
90
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:05:03
∘
90
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:05:03
360 º − 160º − 110º = 90 º
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:05:03
90 degrees
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 20:05:03
90 degrees
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:05:03
90 degrees
Save_The_Elephants
2021-08-06 20:05:03
90º
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 20:05:03
90 degrees
Sarah010
2021-08-06 20:05:03
90 degrees
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:05:15
∘
The two arcs shown add to 270 , so the missing arc must be 90∘ .
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:05:19

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:05:29
So, how do we find x?
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:06:54
x = (160º - 90º) / 2 = 70º / 2 = 35º
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 20:06:54
∘ ∘
160 −90
x =
2
.
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:06:54
∘
x = (160– 90)/2 = 35
iejake
2021-08-06 20:06:54
x=(160-90)/2=35 degrees
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:06:54
x=(160-90)/2=70/2=35 degrees
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:07:00
∘
1 70
To find x, we take
∘ ∘ ∘
(160 − 90 ) = = 35 .
2 2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:07:11
Let's figure out how to prove the claim we just used. Let's label the points in our picture:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:07:23

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:07:32
What might we add to the diagram so that we can use relationships between arcs and angles that we already know?
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:08:22
Lines BC and AB
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:08:28
Yeah, you can do a similar thing to how we dealt with two secants: Connect the points of intersection with the circle and then
chase angles.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:08:34

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:08:43
Since we have all the arcs, we have all the angles in the inscribed triangle. We also have the large angle at the point of tangency.
Everything follows from there.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:08:54
(We won't prove all these in class tonight because they're all very similar to the proofs we did last week, so you can prove them for
yourself after class as exercises. There are too many fun tangent problems we have to get to today for us to spend much time
mildly reconfiguring arguments you've already seen.)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:09:08
Here's another angle relationship with tangents:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:09:10
In the figure below, find x. The two segments are tangent to the circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:09:13

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:09:24
The one value we are given is 42 degrees for ∠A. How do you think this is related to the arc measures?
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:10:17
angle A is equal to half the difference of the arcs
CalvinGarces
2021-08-06 20:10:17
that is half the difference of the arc measures
pwr
2021-08-06 20:10:17
(bigger arc-smaller arc)/2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:10:19
Just as with the angle between two secants, the angle between two tangents is half the difference of the arcs.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:10:32
So, we know that 42 degrees is half the difference of the arcs. What do we need to do to find x?
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:10:52
express the larger arc in terms of x
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:11:01
We need to get expressions for the values of the arcs.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:11:16
Arc BD is x. How about arc BCD?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:11:56
(x has already degrees in it; 360 doesn't)
dan09
2021-08-06 20:12:26
arc BCD is 360∘ − x
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:12:26
arc BCD = 360 º−x
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 20:12:26
Arc BCD = 360∘ − x.
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 20:12:26
360 degrees - x
pwr
2021-08-06 20:12:26
360 degrees - x
Save_The_Elephants
2021-08-06 20:12:26
360º-x
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:12:26
arc BCD = 360 – x
∘
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:12:26
360 degrees-x
CalvinGarces
2021-08-06 20:12:26
360 degrees - x
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:12:26
360 degrees - x
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:12:26
∘
360 − x
Sarah010
2021-08-06 20:12:26
360 degrees-x
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:13:21
arc BCD is 360 − x. So what equation do we get for x?
∘
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:14:21
(360 º − x − x)/2 = 42º
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 20:14:21
((360-2x)/2=42 degrees
RyanL2019
2021-08-06 20:14:21
(360˚-2x)/2=42˚
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:14:47
We have
∘
(360 − x) − x
∘
= 42 .
2
What does this give us?
hchhaya
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x = 138 degrees
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x = 138 degrees
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:15:47
∘
x = 138
Sarah010
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x=138 degrees
RyanL2019
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x=138˚
pwr
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x=138 degrees
dan09
2021-08-06 20:15:47
∘
x = 138
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x = 138 .
∘
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x=138 degrees
Hridhaan
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x=138 degrees
grayspider
2021-08-06 20:15:47
So x = 138
∘
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x = 138 º
tkubota
2021-08-06 20:15:47
∘
x = 138
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:15:47
∘
x = 138
cwc28
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x=138 degrees
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x=138 degrees
grayspider
2021-08-06 20:15:47
so
∘ ∘ ∘
180 − x = 42 , x = 138
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:15:47
x=138 degrees.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:15:52
Solving for x, we get x = 138∘ .
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:16:03
Let's see a quick way we might prove the formula we used here really works. What might we add to the diagram to get information
from our two tangents?
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:16:42
radii?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:16:45
Right, we could draw the center and some radii to B and D :
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:16:46

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:16:52
What is a fast way to find angle BOD?
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:17:50
use the right angles the tangents form
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:17:53

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:18:04
Since the tangents meet the radii at 90 degree angles, ∠BOD is the only angle missing from quadrilateral BODA.
dan09
2021-08-06 20:18:15
∘
Note that ∠OBA and ∠ODA are right, so ∠BOD
∘ ∘ ∘ ∘
= 360 − 90 − 90 − 42 = 138
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:18:17
So ∠BOD = 360 − (90 + 90 Of course, the measure of an arc is equal to the measure of its central angle,
∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘
+ 42 ) = 138 .
so again, we see that x

∘
= 138 .
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:18:31
As a challenge, I invite you to generalize this argument to give a proof that the angle formed by two tangents is always half the
difference between the intercepted arcs.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:18:58
Let's now take all the arc relationships we've learned and put them to work in a problem.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:19:12
In the diagram shown, P C is tangent to the circle and P D is the angle bisector of ∠CP E. If arc CD is 70 degrees, arc DE is 30
degrees, and ∠DQE = 40 degrees, then determine the measure of arc AE, the arc in the lower part of the diagram. (Diagram
not to scale)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:19:14

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:19:37
First question: is ∠P CE = 90 degrees? Tangents form right angles, right?
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 20:20:56
no because line CE is not a diameter
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:20:56
angle PCE is not right because CE is not a diameter
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:21:08
("a" diameter, not "the" diameter)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:21:25
No! Segment CE is a chord that is not a diameter (the arc it cuts off is not 180 degrees). Therefore, it is not perpendicular to the
tangent at C.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:21:44
Be careful about this in problems involving tangents. A tangent is perpendicular to a diameter at the point of tangency, not to a
chord that is not a diameter.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:21:48
Second question: is Q the center of the circle?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:22:06
(justify your answer)
dan09
2021-08-06 20:23:30
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
No, because if it was, then CE would be a diameter, as it passes through Q.
pwr
2021-08-06 20:23:30
no then arc CDE would be 180 degrees not 100 degrees
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 20:23:30
no, because it is on line CE which does not cross the center of the circle
Sarah010
2021-08-06 20:23:30
no, since it lies on line CE, which isn't a diameter
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 20:23:30
no because <DQE is not equal to arc DE
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:23:30
the center of the circle lies on the diameter and CE is not a diameter
Hridhaan
2021-08-06 20:23:30
No. If Q was the center, <EQD would be 30 degrees
Bluepantzola1
2021-08-06 20:23:30
no, because angle DQE isn't equivalent to arc DE
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:23:30
no, because minor arcs CD and DE add to 100 degrees, but if Q is the center, then they would add to 180 degrees
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:23:36
No! Notice that ∠DQE ≠ arc DE . If Q were the center, these measures would be equal! Also, if Q were the center, chord CE
would be a diameter, but we just pointed out that it is not.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:24:02
What do we need in order to find the measure of arc AE?
GarudS
2021-08-06 20:24:33
arc AC
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:24:33
We need the measure of arc ABC
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:24:38
We have arc CD and arc DE. Let's see if we can find arc AC . (If we can get arc AC , then we can find arc AE since the sum of all
these arcs is 360∘ .)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:24:43
How can we find the measure of arc AC?
pwr
2021-08-06 20:25:14
finding the measure of arcs BC and BA
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:25:17
We can find arc AC by finding arcs AB and BC separately.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:25:18
How can we find arc BC?
pwr
2021-08-06 20:25:55
by using our formula from last week
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:25:55
use arc DE and angle DQE which is 40 degrees
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:26:15
Since ∠DQE is inside the circle, its measure is the average of arc BC and arc DE. What do we find then?
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:27:27
(30º + measure of arc BC) / 2 = 40º, so we can solve for arc BC giving arc BC = 50º
pwr
2021-08-06 20:27:27
arc BC is 50 degrees
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:27:27
∘
arc BC = 50
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:27:27
arc BC=50 degrees.
cwc28
2021-08-06 20:27:27
arc BC=50 degrees
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:27:27
Arc BC is 50 degrees
iejake
2021-08-06 20:27:30
arc BC= 50 degrees
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:27:35
Since 40 is the average of 30 and 50, arc BC
∘
= 50 .
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:27:41
Now how do we find arc AB? What angle might we use?
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:28:35
we can use angle BPA
pwr
2021-08-06 20:28:35
angle APB
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:28:35
angle BPA?
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 20:28:35
We can use angle BPA
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:28:38
If we knew ∠DP E, then we could use it to find arc AB. How might we find ∠DP E?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:28:59
(Time to reread the problem statement, if you are stuck)
pwr
2021-08-06 20:29:53
by finding angle BPC since they have the same measure
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:29:53
<DPE = <CPQ due to PD being an angle bisector of <CPE
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 20:29:53
we use angle DPC because PD is an angle bisector
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:29:57
Fortunately ∠DP E is the same as ∠DP C because we are given that ∠CP E is bisected. (If you had forgotten this, you probably
would have been stuck here. Then you should ask yourself 'Is there anything in the problem statement that we have not used yet?'
That would have brought you to the bisected angle. 'What haven't I used yet' can be very useful on geometry problems.)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:30:12
Remember we found that arc BC is 50 . So what is ∠DP C?
∘
CalvinGarces
2021-08-06 20:31:15
it is 10 degrees
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:31:15
<DPC = (70º - 50º) / 2 = 10º
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:31:15
10 degrees
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:31:15
angle DPC= 10 degrees
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:31:15
10 degrees
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 20:31:15
angle DPC = 10 degrees
GarudS
2021-08-06 20:31:15
∘
10
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 20:31:15
10 degrees
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:31:19
Since ∠DP C is half the difference of the arcs it intercepts,
1
∠DP C = (arc CD − arc BC)
2
∘ ∘
70 − 50
=
2
∘
20
∘
= = 10 .
2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:31:22
So, because of the angle bisector, we also have ∠DP E = 10 .
∘
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:31:33
How can we find the measure of arc BA now?
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:32:29
use arc DE
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:32:38
How? What formula do we have?
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:33:31
(30-arc BA)/2 = 10
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 20:33:31
∘
30 −(arcBA)
.
∘
10 =
2
pwr
2021-08-06 20:33:31
(arc DE - arc BA)/2= angle BPA
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:33:31
(arc DE – arc AB)/2 = 10º
Sarah010
2021-08-06 20:33:31
(arc DE-arc AB)/2=10 degrees
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:33:47
We know ∠DP E is half the difference of the arcs it intercepts, so
(arc DE) − (arc BA)
∠DP E = ,
2
∘
30 − (arc BA)
∘
10 = ,
2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:33:57
What does this give us?
pwr
2021-08-06 20:34:25
arc BA is 10 degrees
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:34:25
∘
arc BA = 10
RyanL2019
2021-08-06 20:34:25
arc BA=10˚
Sarah010
2021-08-06 20:34:25
arc BA=10 degrees
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:34:25
arc AB = 10º
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 20:34:25
Arc BA is 10 degrees
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:34:46
We have 20∘ = 30∘ − (arc BA) and so
∘
(arc BA) = 10 .
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:34:58
Great, we've found all the arcs we need. What do we get for the measure of arc AE?
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:35:37
arc AE = 360 º − 70º − 30º − 60º = 200º
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:35:37
∘
arc AE = 200
CalvinGarces
2021-08-06 20:35:37
arc AE = 200 degrees
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:35:37
arc AE = 200º
pwr
2021-08-06 20:35:37
arc AE is 200 degrees
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:35:37
arc AE = 200º
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:35:41
The arcs other than AE are arc AB and arc DE which add up to 160 So
∘ ∘ ∘ ∘ ∘
= 10 , arc CB = 50 , arc CD = 70 , = 30 , .
∘ ∘ ∘
arc AE = 360 − 160 = 200 .
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:35:59
That was a good, patient strategy there: We didn't find the answer all at once. We just gradually, bit by bit, determined what we
could until we had all the info we needed.
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:36:06
the diagram does not look to scale
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:36:17
Yes, we warned you about that.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:36:25
Here's a to-scale diagram:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:36:27

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:36:44
Also, there were many intricate angle relationships that we dealt with one by one. In other words, our method was a typical angle
chase. You'll do this quite a bit whenever you have circles.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:36:54
We've seen a lot of uses of tangent lines in computing angles. Now let's look at lengths.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:37:05
Suppose point P is 20 units away from the center, O, of a circle with radius 12, and that point B is on the circle such that segment
P B is tangent to the circle. Find P B.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:37:12
Draw a diagram at home and send me the word YaYaYaY when your picture is beautiful and labelled.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:37:47
We draw our circle, and we draw triangle P BO, because we know P O = 20, OB = 12, and ∠P BO is a right angle (because
P B is tangent to the circle at B). So, we have:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:37:52

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:38:02
So, what is P B?
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:38:35
PB=16
Sarah010
2021-08-06 20:38:35
PB=16
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:38:35
P B = 16 by the Pythagorean theorem
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 20:38:35
PB = 16
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:38:38
From right triangle OP B, we have
2 2 2
PB = PO − OB = 400 − 144 = 256.
Therefore, we have P B = 16. (We might also have recognized the 12 – 16 – 20 Pythagorean triple.)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:38:45
Is the point B shown in the diagram the only possible point on the circle such that the line through P and the point is tangent to
the circle?
pwr
2021-08-06 20:39:39
no you can reflect point B over PO and get another point
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:39:43
There is another point on the circle, which we'll call A, such that P A is tangent to the circle.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:39:45

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:39:54
(This makes sense intuitively, but it takes a bit of work to prove such a point A actually exists, which I'll leave to you as a
challenging exercise.)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:40:03
Above, we found that P B = 16. What about P A?
Sarah010
2021-08-06 20:40:32
PA=16
pwr
2021-08-06 20:40:32
PA= 16 as well
grayspider
2021-08-06 20:40:32
P A = P B = 16
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:40:32
PA=16
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:40:36
Why will P A also be 16?
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:41:40
the two triangles are congruent
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 20:41:40
because triangles PBO and POA are congruent
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:41:40
From congruent triangles
iejake
2021-08-06 20:41:40
triangle PAO and triangle POB are congruent
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 20:41:40
Because the triangles are congruent
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:41:40
HL congruence for triangles PBO and PAO
dan09
2021-08-06 20:41:40
Because △P AO ≅ △P BO
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:41:40
Triangle PBO is congruent to PAO
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 20:41:40
triangles PBO and PAO are congruent
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:41:45
We could use the same steps as we did for P B to find that P A = 16. More generally, we can prove that two tangents from a point
to a circle are always equal.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:42:00
Why are the two triangles congruent?
pwr
2021-08-06 20:42:28
because the two triangles are congruent by HL
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:42:28
triangle PAO congruent to triangle PBO by HL congruence
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 20:42:28
by HL congruence
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:42:28
using HL congruence
Sarah010
2021-08-06 20:42:28
HL congruency
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:42:28
They are conruent by HL congruence.
RyanL2019
2021-08-06 20:42:28
HL congruence
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:42:33
We know that both tangents are perpendicular to the radii drawn to the points of tangency, so we have ∠A = ∠B = 90∘ . We also
have OA = OB (both radii of the same circle), and OP equals itself. Therefore, we have △OAP ≅ △OBP by HL Congruence.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:42:41
Therefore, P A = P B, so we have proved that two tangents from the same point to the same circle have the same length.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:43:28
Next, let's examine incircles with our new knowledge regarding tangents.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:43:34
Suppose the incircle of ABC meets side AB at Z, side BC at X, and side AC at Y . Furthermore, suppose AB = 12, BC = 9,
and AC = 11.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:43:41
Our goal in this problem is to find AZ.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:43:43

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:43:51
What tools are we likely to use in this problem?
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:44:14
Tangents?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:44:26
We have a bunch of pairs of tangents from the same point to the same circle. What about them?
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:45:30
AZ=AY, CY=CX, and BZ=BX
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:45:30
BZ=BX we just proved that is the case; similarly AZ=AY and XC=YC
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:45:30
each pair has two tangents that are equal to each other in length
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 20:45:30
they give congruent line segments
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:45:37
So, we're likely to use the fact that tangents from the same point to the same circle are equal in length. Specifically, we have
AZ = AY , BX = BZ, and CX = CY . How might we use that information?
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:46:01
label equal lengths with variables
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:46:03
We can represent this information in the diagram by labeling it with variables:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:46:04

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:46:05
Now what?
pwr
2021-08-06 20:46:17
set up equations
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:46:26
We can build three equations with the given side lengths.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:46:36
(Give us all three in one post)
dan09
2021-08-06 20:47:25
x + y = 12, y + z = 9, x + z = 11
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 20:47:25
x+y = 12, x+z = 11, y+z = 9
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 20:47:25
x+y=12, y+z=9, x+z=11
Sarah010
2021-08-06 20:47:25
x+z=11
y+z=9
x+y=12
pwr
2021-08-06 20:47:25
x+z=11, z+y=9, x+y=12
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 20:47:25
,
x + y = 12 y + z = 9 , and x + z = 11 .
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:47:30
x+y=12, y+z=9, and x+z=11
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:47:30
x + y = 12, x + z = 11, y + z = 9.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:47:33
We have AB = 12, so x + y = 12. We have BC = 9, so y + z = 9. We have AC = 11, so x + z = 11. So, we have the
system:
x + y = 12
y + z = 9
x + z = 11.
What's a fast way to solve this system?
Bluepantzola1
2021-08-06 20:47:57
Add the equations together
iejake
2021-08-06 20:47:57
add all of the equations up
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:47:57
Add the three equations together
dan09
2021-08-06 20:47:57
Add all the equations
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:48:13
If we add them all up, what do we have?
grayspider
2021-08-06 20:48:49
2(x + y + z) = 32
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 20:48:49
2x+2y+2z=32
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 20:48:49
2(x+y+z) = 32
Bluepantzola1
2021-08-06 20:48:49
2x+2y+2z=32
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 20:48:49
2x+2y+2z=32
iejake
2021-08-06 20:48:49
2x+2y+2z=32
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 20:48:49
2x + 2y + 2z = 32.
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:48:49
2x+2y+2z=32
joeshu60091
2021-08-06 20:48:49
2x+2y+2z=32
pwr
2021-08-06 20:48:49
2x+2y+2z=32
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:49:02
We have
2(x + y + z) = 12 + 9 + 11 = 32.
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:49:08
x+y+z=16
Sunshine2016
2021-08-06 20:49:08
x+y+z=16
grayspider
2021-08-06 20:49:08
x + y + z = 16
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:49:08
2x + 2y + 2z = 32 making x + y + z = 16
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 20:49:08
x+y+z=16
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:49:08
x+y+z = 16
Sarah010
2021-08-06 20:49:08
x+y+z=16
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:49:08
2(x + y + z) = 32, so x + y + z = 16
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:49:10
So, we have x + y + z = 16.
dan09
2021-08-06 20:49:41
Subtract each equation from the sum
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:49:45
Combining x + y + z = 16 with x + y = 12, we get z = 4. Similarly, we use y + z = 9 to find x = 7, and we use x + z = 11
to find y = 5.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:49:52
The problem asked for AZ, and we have AZ = x = 7.
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:50:06
Yay!
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:50:08
Let's generalize what we just did to any triangle. Suppose triangle ABC has BC = a, CA = b, and AB = c. (It is conventional
to label each side length with the same letter as its opposite angle.)
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:50:15
Now if we label x, y, and z as before:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:50:17

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:50:19
What is our system of equations?
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:50:42
(Give us all three in one post)
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:52:00
x+y=c, x+z=b, y+z=a
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:52:00
y + z = a
x + z = b
x + y = c
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:52:00
x + y = c, x + z = b, y + z = a.
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:52:00
y+z=a, x+y=c, and x+z=b
pwr
2021-08-06 20:52:00
x+z=b, x+y=c, y+z=a
iejake
2021-08-06 20:52:00
x+y=c, y+z=a, and x+z=b
MathNinja7
2021-08-06 20:52:00
x+z=b,y+z=a,x+y=c
grayspider
2021-08-06 20:52:00
y + x = c
x + z = b
z + y = a
Yashvini
2021-08-06 20:52:00
x+y=c, x+z=b, y+z=a
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:52:11
x + y = c
y + z = a
x + z = b
a + b + c
Adding all the equations again, we get 2(x + y + z) = a + b + c, or x + y + z = = s, the semiperimeter.
2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:52:21
So what is a simple way to write x?
pwr
2021-08-06 20:52:47
x= s-y-z
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:52:54
Can we simplify it further?
CalvinGarces
2021-08-06 20:53:57
x=s-a
Hridhaan
2021-08-06 20:53:57
x=s-a
pwr
2021-08-06 20:53:57
x= s-a
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:53:57
x=s-a
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 20:53:57
x=s-a
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:53:57
x = s − a
theprotypers2
2021-08-06 20:53:57
x=s-a
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:54:09
Subtracting our second equation, y + z = a , from above, we get x = s − a.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:54:18
How about y?
pwr
2021-08-06 20:55:04
y= s-b
theprotypers2
2021-08-06 20:55:04
y=s-b
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 20:55:04
y=s-b
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:55:04
y= s-b
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:55:04
y=s-b
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:55:04
y=s-b
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:55:04
y=s–b
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:55:05
And how about z?
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z=s-c
iejake
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z=s-c
pwr
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z= s - c
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z=s-c
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z=s–c
Suraahi
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z = s − c
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z = s − c.
theprotypers2
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z=s-c
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z=s-c
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z = s − c
RyanL2019
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z=s-c
dan09
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z = s − c
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z = s-c
Brendangho
2021-08-06 20:55:52
z = s-c
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:56:02
Similarly, y = s − b and z = s − c. These are handy formulas if you ever deal with those lengths.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:56:04
Do you all see how to obtain these cyclically from the given figure?
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 20:56:28
yes
pwr
2021-08-06 20:56:28
yes
iejake
2021-08-06 20:56:28
yes!
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 20:56:28
yes!
Hridhaan
2021-08-06 20:56:28
yes
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 20:56:32
Yes.
Siella
2021-08-06 20:56:32
yes
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:56:49
Derive two formulas to express the radius of the incircle of a right triangle in terms of the side lengths a, b, and c.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:56:53

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:57:15
We want to find the inradius of a triangle. What formulas have we learned involving the inradius which we might be able to use?
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:58:02
the area of the triangle is inradius times semiperimeter
iejake
2021-08-06 20:58:02
semi perimeter * inradius = area of triangle
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:58:05
Recall that we've seen that the area of any triangle satisfies the formula
Area = rs
where r is the inradius and s is the semiperimeter.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:58:20
We can use [ABC] = rs again, where r is the inradius and s is the semiperimeter.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:58:26
What are the area and semiperimeter of this right triangle?
pwr
2021-08-06 20:58:51
area = ab/2, semiperimeter= (a+b+c)/2
iejake
2021-08-06 20:58:56
ab/2 is the area and (a+b+c)/2 is the semi perimeter
cwc28
2021-08-06 20:58:56
area is ab/2, semiperimeter is (a+b+c)/2
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 20:58:56
Area = ab/2 semiperimeter = (a+b+c)/2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:58:58
ab 1
We have [ABC] = and s = (a + b + c), so we find
2 2
[ABC] ab
r = = .
s a + b + c
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:59:02
So that's one formula for the inradius of a right triangle. Let's see if we can find another formula using our new information about
tangents.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:59:10

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:59:15
We want to relate the sides to the inradius, so we should add in radii.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:59:23
The logical places to draw a radius are the points where the sides are tangent to the circle because this will make right angles. We
might as well draw all of them.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:59:24

Achilleas
2021-08-06 20:59:34
Do we know anything else about this diagram?
Suraahi
2021-08-06 21:00:04
DIEC is a square
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 21:00:04
DIEC is a square
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:00:17
We have ∠C = ∠I DC = ∠I EC so DI EC is a rectangle. Furthermore, I E so DI EC is a square!
∘
= 90 , = I D,
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 21:00:23
we know that CD = CE = r
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:00:25
That means CD = CE = r, as well.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:00:29

Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:00:42
What other expression did we just derive for lengths like CE?
Rinnypig
2021-08-06 21:01:17
CE = s − c.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:01:20
a + b + c
We had CE = s − c . Remember that s = gives us
2
a + b + c a + b − c
r = CE = − c = .
2 2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:01:28
For fun, let's set these formulas equal and see what we get:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:01:30
For a right triangle,
ab a + b − c
r = = .
a + b + c 2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:01:43
If we cross-multiply, we get
2 2 2 2 2
2ab = (a + b + c)(a + b − c) = (a + b) − c = a + 2ab + b − c .
Then what?
Wuwuspring
2021-08-06 21:02:28
a^2+b^2=c^2
Sirahulania
2021-08-06 21:02:28
the 2ab term goes away
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:02:31
Canceling the 2ab gives us 0 = a
2
+ b
2
− c ,
2
which is the Pythagorean theorem! WHOA!
pwr
2021-08-06 21:02:44
dan09
2021-08-06 21:02:44
Cool!
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:02:49
SUMMARY
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:02:55

Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:02:58
A line is tangent to a circle if it touches the circle at exactly one point. This point is called the point of tangency. The radius of the
circle drawn to the point of tangency is perpendicular to the tangent at that point. This fact is useful for us, because it allows us to
build right triangles in problems involving tangents.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:03:17
We also explored some relationships involving tangents.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:03:18

Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:03:44
First, the angle between a tangent and a chord is half the intercepted arc.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:03:47
Next, the angle between two tangents is the half the difference of the intercepted arcs, and the angle between a tangent and a
secant is also half the difference of the intercepted arcs.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:03:54
We also revisited the incircle:
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:03:55

Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:04:04
We found a formula to find x, y, and z in the diagram above in terms of the sides of ABC : x = s − a, y = s − b, and
z = s − c.
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:04:12
We also found some formulas for the inradius of a right triangle. We showed that if r is the inradius of a right triangle with legs a
and b, then
ab a + b − c
r = = .
a + b + c 2
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:04:18
Any questions?
pwr
2021-08-06 21:04:49
nope
shenpinyi
2021-08-06 21:04:49
no
Vitah2008
2021-08-06 21:04:49
no!
AndrewZhong2012
2021-08-06 21:04:49
nope
iejake
2021-08-06 21:04:49
nope!
Achilleas
2021-08-06 21:04:55
Thank you all! Have a wonderful week! See you next time!
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Geometry Week 15 - 2689 Introduction To Geometry

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Geometry Week 15 - 2689 Introduction To Geometry

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11/22/21, 9:09 PM 2689 Introduction to Geometry

Introduction to Geometry (2689)

Week 15: Tangents

What does this give us?

so again, we see that x

What's a fast way to solve this system?

where r is the inradius and s is the semiperimeter.

© 2021 Art of Problem Solving

Copyright © 2021 Art of Problem Solving

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