Tangents and Chords

Director Circle
 Locus of intersection of two mutually perpendicular tangents

Tangents at A, B are ⊥ at M

Tangents at C, D are ⊥ at N

OAMB and OCND are squares

 OM = ON = √2r

 Director circle is a concentric circle with radius √2r

 Equation of Director Circle
 If the equation of circle is (x+g)2+(y+f)2 = r2

 Director circle’s equation is:

(x+g)2+(y+f)2 = 2r2
 Example
 Let P be any moving point on the circle x2+y2–2x–1 = 0, from
this point chord of contact is drawn w.r.t the circle x 2+y2–2x =
0.
 Find the locus of circumcentre of ∆CAB, C being the centre of
the circle

We have been given two circles:

(x–1)2+y2 = 1 and (x–1)2+y2 = 2

So, the second circle is the director circle of the first circle
 Example contd.
 ∆ACB is right angled at C (because APBC is a square)

 Circumcentre would be mid. AB

Let midpoint of AB be D(h,k)

 CD = CAsin45˚ = r/√2 = 1/√2

 √[(h–1)2+k2] = 1/√2

 (h–1)2 + k2 = 1/2
 Chord in Terms of Midpoint
 The simplest form of expressing it is T = S 1

 xx1 + yy1 + g(x+x1) + f(y+y1) + c = x12+y12+2gx1+2fy1+c

Given: M(x1,y1)

To find: Equation of AB

Slope of AB = mAB = (y1+f)/(x1+g)

 AB: (y–y1) = [(y1+f)/(x1+g)]*(x–x1)

We shall also use T = S1 for parabola, ellipse etc.

 Example
 Find the coordinates of the point from which tangents are
drawn to the circle x2+y2–6x–4y+3 = 0 such that midpoint of
COC is (1,1)

Let the point be P(x1,y1)

We can write eqn. of AB in two ways:

Eqn. of AB (COC) is:

xx1 + yy1 – 3(x+x1) –2(y+y1) + 3 = 0 —(1)

 Example contd.
 The equation of AB in terms of midpoint (1,1) is:

T = S1

 x+y–3(x+1)–2(y+1)+3 = –5 —(2)

From (1) and (2),

x1 = –1 and y1 = 0
 Example
 Find the locus of midpoints of the chords of the circle
x2+y2+2gx+2fy+c = 0 which passes through a fixed point (a,b)

Midpoint of chords that always pass through (a,b)

Let M be midpoint of chord AB

If you join CO, the circle with diameter CO passes

through M (since ∠OMC = 90˚)
 Example contd.
 To write the locus of M, we can now write the diametric
form of circle with diameter CO

 (x+g)(x–a)+(y+f)(y–b) = 0
 Example
 From the origin chords are drawn to circle (x–1)2+y2 = 1.

Find the equation of locus of midpoints of these chords

Equation of chord OA: T = S1

 xh+yk–(x+h) = h2+k2–2h

Since chord OA passes through (0,0)

 h2+k2–2h = –h

 Locus is x2+y2–x = 0
 Example
 Let 2x2+y2–3xy = 0 be the equation of a pair of tangents
drawn from origin O to a circle of radius 3 with center
in the first quadrant.
 If A is one of the points of contact, find length of OA

Let us find the pair of lines forming the tangents:

2x2+y2–3xy = 0

 Tangents are y = 2x and y = x

 Example contd.
 Tan(45+2θ) = 2 = (1+tan2θ)/(1–tan2θ)

Solving, tan2θ= 1/3

 Tanθ = √10 – 3

In ∆OCA

OAtanθ = 3

 OA = 3/(√10–3)
 Pair of Tangents
 The equation of pair of tangents is SS1 = T2

Let the equation of circle be x2+y2 = a2

Equation of tangents OA and OB:

(x2+y2–a2)(x12+y12–a2) = (xx1+yy1–a2)2
 Example
 Find the equation of tangents drawn from (3,2) on the circle
x2+y2+4x+6y+8 = 0

The pair of tangents are: SS1 = T2

S1 = (3)2+(2)2+(4*3)+(6*2)+8 = 45

T = xx1 + yy1 + g(x+x1) + f(y+y1) + c = 3x+2y+2(x+3)+3(y+2)+8 = 5x+5y+20

 (x2+y2+4x+6y+8)(45) = (5x+5y+20)2

Solving, (2x–y–4)(x–2y+1) = 0
 Example
 Tangents are drawn from P(4,5) to the circle x2+y2–4x–2y–11 = 0

 Find the area of the quadrilateral formed with the pair of radii

PA = √SP = 2

OA = √(g2+f2–c) = 4

 Area of ∆OAP = ½*2*4 = 4 sq. units

 Area OAPB = 8 sq. units

 Example
 The chords of contact of the pair of tangents drawn from each
point on the line 2x+y = 4 to the circle x2+y2 = 1 always pass
through which point?

Tangents are dropped from P(h,4–2h)

Equation of A is TP = 0

 hx + (4–2h)y = 1

 (4y–1) + h(x–2y) = 0
 Example contd.
 Since equation of AB is:

(4y–1) + h(x–2y) = 0

This is a family of lines L1 +hL2 = 0

 AB will always pass through

intersection of L1 and L2

 AB will always pass through (1/2, 1/4)

 A
2x+y = 4
O
(0,0)
P
COC (h,4–2h)
B