Geometry

HS Mathematics
Unit: 07 Lesson: 01

Secant and Tangent Relationships

Tangent Theorem: The tangent line (or segment, or ray) is perpendicular to the radius of the
circle at the point of tangency.

This theorem can be used to solve right triangle problems with circles.

Secant Theorem 1: If two chords intersect inside a circle, the products of the measures of the
segments of the chords are equal.
W
T
TX • XV = UX • XW

TX = 5 X
XV = 8 V
UX = 10 U
XW = _____

Secant Theorem 2: If two secant segments are drawn to a circle from an exterior point outside
the circle, the product of the measures of one secant segment and its external secant segment
is equal to the product of the measures of the other secant segment and its external secant
segment.

DF • DE = DG • DH D
H

DH = 8
DE = 6 E
G
DG = 18
DF = _____

©2012, TESCCC 04/25/13 page 1 of 4

 Geometry
HS Mathematics
Unit: 07 Lesson: 01

Secant and Tangent Relationships

Tangent-Secant Theorem: If a tangent segment and a secant segment are drawn to a circle
from an exterior point, then the square of the measure of the tangent segment is equal to the
product of the measures of the secant segment and its external secant segment.

JK2 = KM  KL

KL = 3 J
LM = 9

KM = _____

JK = _____ K
L M

Equivalent Tangent Theorem: If two segments from the same exterior point are tangent to a
circle, then they are congruent.
C
AB = AC

AB = 5

AC = _____
A

©2012, TESCCC 04/25/13 page 2 of 4

 Geometry
HS Mathematics
Unit: 07 Lesson: 01

Secant and Tangent Relationships

Practice Problems (If necessary, round to the nearest tenth.)

L
Figure 1

K P M
N R

Find the indicated measures for the circle in Figure 1, if KL is tangent to the circle at point L.

LN  82o NP = 3
OR  125 o
OP = 4
K  28o PL = 12
KN = 30

1. LR 2. NO 3. OLR 4. LPR

5. NPL 6. PR 7. KR 8. KL

9. Using the given information and calculated measurements, is NR the diameter of the circle in the
diagram? Justify your conclusions.

©2012, TESCCC 04/25/13 page 3 of 4

 Geometry
HS Mathematics
Unit: 07 Lesson: 01

Secant and Tangent Relationships

Figure 2
12

8
x
O

10. Given Circle O in Figure 2, find the following:

a. The value of x.
b. The radius of the circle.
c. The circumference of the circle.
d. The area of the circle.

B
Figure 3

30° E
A C
12

D
11. Given Circle C in Figure 3, find the following:
a. AB
b. AC
c. CB
d. CE
e. CD
f. mACB
g. mACD
h. mDAC
i. The circumference of the circle.
j. The area of the circle.
k. The length of BD .

©2012, TESCCC 04/25/13 page 4 of 4