Use Properties of Tangents

Goal: You will use properties of a tangent to a

circle.
Properties of a Circle
• A circle is the set of all points in a plane that are
equidistant from a given point called the center of
the circle.

• A segment whose endpoints are the center and any

point on the circle is a radius.

• A chord is a segment whose endpoints are on a

circle.

• A diameter is a chord that contains the center of the

circle.
• A secant is a line that intersects a circle in two
points.

• A tangent is a line in the plane of a circle that

intersects the circle in exactly one point, called the
point of tangency.
Ex.1: Tell whether the line, ray, or segment is best
described as a radius, chord, diameter, secant, or
tangent of C.

a. AC b. AB
 
c. DE d. AE
Ex.2: Tell whether the line, ray, or segment is best
described as a radius, chord, diameter, secant, or
tangent of C.

a. DC b. BD

c. DE d. AE
Ex.3: Use the diagram to find the given lengths.

a. Radius of  A
b. Diameter of  A
c. Radius of  B
d. Diameter of  B
Properties of Tangents
• Two circles can intersect in two points, one point, or
no points.

• Coplanar circles that intersect in one point are called

tangent circles.

• Coplanar circles that have a common center are

called concentric circles.
• A line, ray, or segment that is tangent to two
coplanar circles is called a common tangent.

Ex.4: Tell how many common tangents the circles

have and draw them.
a. b.

c.
• Theorem 10.1:
In a plane, a line is tangent to a circle if and only if
the line is perpendicular to a radius of the circle at
its endpoint on the circle.

Ex.5: In the diagram, PT is a radius of  P. Is ST

tangent to  P ?
Ex.6: In the diagram, B is a point of tangency. Find
the radius ofC.

• Theorem 10.2:
Tangent segments from a common external point
are congruent.
Ex.7: RS is tangent to C at S and RT is tangent to
C at T. Find the value of x.

Ex.8: ST is tangent to Q. Find the value of r.

Ex.9: In C , DA is tangent at A and DB is tangent at
B. Find x.

Ex.10: Is DE tangent to C ?
Ex.11: Find the value of x.