MATHS PROJECT

EIGTH PROJECT
OUT OF 10

OBJECTIVE
To verify that the lengths of the tangents
drawn from an external point to a circle are
equal

Materials Required
1. A sheet of transparent paper
2. A geometry box
Theory
The theorem can be proved as follows.
Let two tangents AP and AQ be drawn from
a point A (external point) to a circle with its
centre at O and having a radius r.
Join OP, OQ and OA.
In AOPA and OQA, we have

1. OP=OQ (each is equal to r)

2. OA =OA (common)
3. ∠OPA = ∠OQA (each is equal to 90°
since AP and AQ are tangents).
∴ ΔOPA is congruent to ΔOQA (by RHS-
criterion).
Hence, AP = AQ, i.e., the two tangents are
equal.

Procedure
Step 1: Mark a point O on the sheet of
transparent paper. With O as the centre,
draw a circle of any radius.
Step 2: Mark a point A outside the circle.
Step 3: Fold the paper along the line that
passes through the point A and just
touches the circle. Make a crease and
unfold the paper. Mark the point P where
the line of fold touches the circle. Join AP.
Then, AP is one of the tangents to the
circle from the point A.
Step 4: Fold the paper along the line that
passes through the point A and just
touches the circle at a point other than P.
Make a crease and unfold the paper. Mark
the point Q where the line of fold touches
the circle. Join AQ. Then, AQ is another
tangent to the circle through the point A.
Step 5: Join OP, OQ and OA, as shown in
Figure 30.2.
Step 6: Fold the paper along the line OA.

Observations
We observe that when the paper is folded
along the line OA, the point P falls exactly
on the point Q. Therefore, AP = AQ.
Result
It is verified that the lengths of the
tangents drawn from an external point to a
circle are equal.