2.

4 Using Tangent and Chord Properties (Page 35)

• A tangent to a circle is a straight line that intersects the circle at only
one point.
• A tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius of the circle at the
point of contact.
• A chord is a line segment that joins two points on the circumference
of a circle.
• The perpendicular bisector of a chord passes through the centre of a
circle
Example 10 (Page 36)
(a) Given: circle C with (𝑥 − 2)2 + (𝑦 − 6)2 = 100
To verify: P(10,0) lies on C
𝑥 = 10, 𝑦 = 0 ⇒ LHS = (𝑥 − 2)2 + (𝑦 − 6)2
= (10 − 2)2 + (0 − 6)2
= 64 + 36
= 100 = RHS
⸫ P lies on C.
(b) To find: equation of the tangent to C at P
The centre of the circle is Q(2,6).
6−0 3
Gradient of PQ = 𝑚1 = =−
2 − 10 4
4
Gradient of the tangent = 𝑚2 =
3

The equation of the tangent at P is

4
𝑦 − 0 = (𝑥 − 10)
3

3𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 40
− 4𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 40 = 0

Example 11 (Page 36)

Given: circle C with (𝑥 − 5)2 + (𝑦 + 3)2 = 10
Line l is tangent to C.
Gradient of line 𝑙 = 𝑚1 = −3
To find: possible equations of line l
The centre of the circle is Q(5, −3).
1
Gradient of the diameter perpendicular to line l = 𝑚2 =
3

The equation of the diameter is

1
𝑦 + 3 = (𝑥 − 5)
3
1 5
𝑦 = 𝑥− −3
3 3
1 14
𝑦= 𝑥− --------- (1)
3 3

(𝑥 − 5)2 + (𝑦 + 3)2 = 10 --------- (2)

1 14
(𝑥 − 5)2 + ( 𝑥 − + 3 )2 = 10
3 3
1 5
(𝑥 − 5)2 + ( 𝑥 − )2 = 10
3 3
1 10 25
𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 25 + 𝑥 2 − 𝑥+ = 10
9 9 9

9𝑥 2 − 90𝑥 + 225 + 𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 25 = 90

 10𝑥 2 − 100𝑥 + 160 = 0
𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 16 = 0
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 8) = 0
𝑥 = 2 or 𝑥 = 8
1 14
𝑥 =2 ⇒ 𝑦 = ×2− =−4
3 3
1 14
𝑥 =8 ⇒ 𝑦 = ×8− =−2
3 3

Points of contact are A(2, − 4) and B(8, − 2).

The equation of the tangent at A is
𝑦 + 4 = −3(𝑥 − 2)
𝑦 + 4 = − 3𝑥 + 6
𝑦 = − 3𝑥 + 2
The equation of the tangent at B is
𝑦 + 2 = −3(𝑥 − 8)
𝑦 + 2 = − 3𝑥 + 24
𝑦 = − 3𝑥 + 22

Example 12 (Page 37)

Given: P(−7, −1) and Q(3, −5) lie on circle with centre C.
M is the midpoint of PQ.
The line l passes through M and C.
(a) To find: equation of line l
 −7+3 −1−5
The midpoint M = ( , ) = (−2, −3)
2 2
−5+1 2
Gradient of PQ = 𝑚1 = =−
3+7 5

MC is perpendicular to PQ.
5
Gradient of MC = 𝑚2 =
2

The equation of the line l is

5
𝑦 + 3 = (𝑥 + 2)
2
5
𝑦 = 𝑥+5−3
2
5
𝑦 = 𝑥+2
2

(b) Given: centre C(𝑎, −8)

To find: value of a
5
−8= 𝑎+2
2

− 16 = 5𝑎 + 4
 𝑎 =−4
⸫ C(− 4, − 8)

(c) To find: equation of the circle

Radius = 𝑟 = CQ = √(3 + 4)2 + (− 5 + 8)2 = √49 + 9 = √58

The equation of the circle is
(𝑥 + 4)2 + (𝑦 + 8)2 = (√58 )2
(𝑥 + 4)2 + (𝑦 + 8)2 = 58