Tangents and

Secants of a
Circle
Objectives
•Define and illustrate tangent
and secant of a circle;
•Identify and name tangent
and secant of a circle;
•Illustrate common tangent.
Tangent Line
• Is a line coplanar with the
circle and intersects it in one
and only one point. C
.
• The point of intersection of Q
the line and the circle is called .
the point of tangency. A.
P.

In the figure, intersect the circle at

A.
is a tangent line and A is the point
of tangency
Common Tangent
• Is a line that is tangent to two
circle in the same plane.

X. .Y M .B
.

Common Internal Tangents Common External Tangents

Intersect the segment joining the Do not intersect the segment joining
centers of the two circles. the centers of the two circles.
Secant Line
• Is a line that intersects a circle
at exactly two points. A secant
contains a chord of a circle. B
.
M
S

In the figure, intersect the circle at

point S and point M.
is a Secant line
Seatwork: Tangents or Secants?
Answer the following question S
using the given figure.
K
1. Which lines are tangent to
the circle? Why?
2. Which lines are secants? N
Why? O R . L
3. At what points does each P
secant intersect the circle?
How about the tangents? M
R
Postulate Tangent Line
• At a given point on a circle,
one and only one line can be
drawn that is tangent to the C
circle. .
Q
.
A.
P.

In the figure, If A is a point on the

circle, then one and only one line
can be drawn through A that is
tangent to the circle.
Theorems on Tangent Line
1. If a line is tangent to a
circle, then it is perpendicular C
to the radius drawn to the .
point of tangency Q
.
.
A
P.

In the figure, if is tangent to the

circle C, then it is perpendicular to
the radius CA.
2. If a line is perpendicular to
a radius of a circle at its
endpoint that is on the circle, C
then the line is tangent to the .
Q
circle. .
.
A
P.

In the figure, if is perpendicular to

radius at A, then it is tangent to
circle C.
3. If two segments from the
same exterior point are C
tangent to a circle, then the E
two segments are congruent. .

B
A

In the figure, if and are tangent to

circle E, then .
Theorems on Angle formed by Tangent and Secant
1. If two secants intersect in P N
the exterior of a circle, then M
the measure of the angle X
.
formed is one-half the
positive difference of the
measures of the intercepted Y
arcs. for example: if
2. If secant and a tangent
intersect in the exterior of a G M
circle, then the measure of C
the angle formed is one-half .
the positive difference of the L
measures of the intercepted
arcs. E

for example: if
3. If two tangents intersect in
the exterior of a circle, then
the measure of the angle J
formed is one-half the .
K
positive difference of the
measures of the intercepted
arcs.
H
for example: if Q
4. If two secants intersect in W
the interior of a circle, then
the measure of an angle
formed is one-half the sum of
the measures of the arcs X . 1 R
2
intercepted by the angle and
its vertical angle.
S
for example: if for example: if
5. If a secant and a tangent
intersect at the point of Q
tangency, then the measure
of each angle formed is one- R
half the measure of its .
T
intercepted arc. S

for example: if W
for example: if

5
Seatwork:
Answer the following question using
the given figure. R
1. are tangents to circle T from an
external point L. Is ? Why?
2. If A T . L

I
Seatwork:
A
Answer the following question using
the given figure.
3 . If E
D . B

F
C
Seatwork:
Answer the following question using the
given figure. L
4. If

. M
G

S
C
Seatwork:
Answer the following question using the
given figure. O
5. If
?
N .

P
Q
R
Seatwork:
Answer the following question using the
given figure. P
6. If
? R
.
T

Q
S