CHAPTER 8 : CIRCLE III

8.1 Tangents to a Circle

1. A tangent to a circle is a straight line that touches the circle at only one point and
the point is called the point of contact.

2. If a straight line cuts a circle at two distinct points, it is called

a secant. The chordis part of the secant in a circle.

3. Tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius of the circle that passes through
the point of contact.

If ABC is the tangent to the circle at B, then ABO = CBO = 90o.

Properties of Two Tangents to a Circle from an External Point

In the diagram, BA and BC are two tangents from an external point B. The
properties of the tangents are as follows.

(a) BA = BC
(b) ABO = CBO = xo
(c) AOB = COB = yo
(d) OAB = OCB = 90o
(e) AOC + ABC = 180o
(f) AOB and COB are congruent

Example 1:

In the diagram, O is the centre of a circle. ABC and CDE are two tangents to the
circle at points B and D respectively. Find the length of OC.
Solution:
OC2 = OB2 + BC2 (Pythagoras Theorem)
= 62 + 82
= 100
OC = 100 = 10 cm

Example 2:

In the diagram, AB and BC are two tangents to a circle with centre O. Calculate the
values of
(a) x

(b) y

Solution:

(a)
AB = BC
7 + x = 12
x=5

(b)
OBA = OBC = 21
OAB = 90 (OA is perpendicular to AB)
o

yo = 180o 21o 90o

y = 69

Example 3:

In the diagram, ABC is a tangent to the circle with centre O at point B. CDE is a
straight line. Find the value of x.

Solution:

CBO = 90

(OB is perpendicular to BC)

In BCE,
x = 180o 30o 50o 90o
x = 10o

8.2 Angle between Tangent and Chord

1. In the diagram above, ABC is a tangent to the circle at point B.

2. Chord PB divides the circle into two segments, that is, the minor
segment PRBand the major segment PQB.

3. With respect to PBA, PQB is known as the angle subtended

by chord BP in the alternate segment.
4. With respect to QBC, BPQ is known as the angle subtended
by chord BQ in the alternate segment.

5. The angle formed by the tangent and the chord which passes through the point
of contact of the tangent is the same as the angle in the alternate segment which is
subtended by the chord.
6. The relationships between the angles are:

Angle ABP = Angle BQP

Angle CBQ = Angle BPQ
Example 1:

In the diagram, ABC is a tangent to the circle BDE at B.

The length of arc BD is equal to the length of arc DE.
Find the value of p.

Solution:
Angle BED = 82o (angle in alternate segment)
Angle DBE = 82o (Arc BD = Arc DE, BDE is an isosceles triangle)
Therefore p = 180o 82o 82o = 16o

Example 2:
In the diagram, PQR is a tangent to the circle QSTU at Q.

Find the value of y.

Solution:
Angle QUT
= 180o 98o (opposite angle in cyclic quadrilateral QSTU )
= 82o
Angle QTU = 75o (angle in alternate segment)
Therefore y = 180o (82o + 75o) (Sum of interior angles in QTU)
= 23o

Example 3:
In the diagram, PQR is a tangent to the circle QSTU at Q.

Find the values of

(a) x

(b) y

Solution:
(a)
UTS + UQS = 180
105 + UQS = 180
UQS = 75
o

(opposite angle in cyclic quadrilateral QSTU)

x + 75o + 20o = 180o(the sum of angles on a straight line PQR = 180o)

x + 95o = 180o
x = 85o

(b)
PQU = QSU
85o = 35o + y

(angle in alternate segment)

y = 50o

Example 4:

In the diagram, ABC is a tangent to the circle BDE with centre O, at B.

Find the value of x.

Solution:

( Ans x = 72o )