Tangents

A line that intersects a circle at one and only

point is tangent to the circle and the point
of intersection is called the point of
tangency.
Theorems on
Tangents
The Tangent Line Theorem

If a line is tangent
If line DB is tangent to circle C
to a circle, then it
at B, then line DB is
is perpendicular perpendicular to the radius CB.
to the radius
drawn to the point
of tangency. *Perpendicular Lines form two
right angles.
The Tangents-Diameter Theorem

The tangents to
a circle at the If and are tangent to
endpoints of a circle O at A and B,
diameter are then .
parallel.
The Tangent Segments Theorem

If two tangent segments are drawn

to a circle from an external point,
then
• the two tangent segments are
congruent
• the angles between the tangent
segments and the line joining If and are tangents of circle O, then,
the external point to the center and
of the circle are congruent.
Examples
Find BC.
Since AC is tangent to the circle at A, then BA and AC are
perpendicular to each other forming a right angle. Then triangle
ABC is a right triangle. To solve for BC, we apply the Pythagorean
Theorem.
2 2 2
B C =B
2
A +
2
A C 2
B C =( 6 ) + ( 8 )
2
B C =36+ 64
2
B C =100
2
√ BC =√ 100
units
 Examples
Find
The sum of all the angles in a quadrilateral is 360.
(by Tangent Line Theorem)
(by Tangent Line Theorem)
(Given)

Assume lines that appear to be tangent are tangents

Examples
Find
The sum of all the angles in a triangle is 180.
(by Tangent Line Theorem)
(Given)
Examples
Find
The sum of all the angles in a triangle is 180.
(by Tangent Line Theorem)
(Given)
 C h o rd s
a n d A rc s
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 Theorems on Chords and Arcs

01 02 03
Distance – Chord
The Perpendicular Theorem
The Perpendicular to a Bisector Chord to
Chord Theorem Central Angle Theorem
 The Perpendicular to a Chord Theorem
The perpendicular from the center of the circle to any chord
1
bisects the chord.

In circle O, if then bisects .

The Perpendicular Bisector Chord to Central Angle
Theorem
2
The perpendicular bisector of a chord of a circle bisects the
central angle subtended by the chord.

In circle O, if is the
perpendicular bisector of the
chord , then bisects .
 Distance – Chord Theorem
In the same circle or in congruent circles, chords are congruent
3
if and only if their distances from the center(s) of the circle(s)
are equal.

In circle O, if , then
Example If , and AE=19 units, then GR=________
1

If , and AE=19 units, then

GR is also 19 units. (by
Distance – Chord
Theorem)
Example If GR=18 cm, AE=18 cm and CT=12 cm, then
2 TL=__________.

If , and
CT=12 cm, then
TL is also 12 cm.
(by Distance – Chord
Theorem)
Example If , EL=2x+3 and CG=11 units, then x=__________
3
If , then .
To solve for x,
Example Solve for x.
4 Radius = 8 +9 =17
Since OB is a radius, then OB = 17.
Triangle OCB is a right triangle, therefore we A
can use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for
x.
8 O
9
C

B
Therefore, x = 15 units.