A tangent to a circle is a line that touches the circle at exactly one point. This chapter proves two key results about tangents: the tangent at any point of a circle is perpendicular to the radius through the point of contact, and the lengths of the two tangents drawn from an external point to a circle are equal. These theorems are used to find unknown lengths and angles and to solve problems involving circles and the lines that touch them, deepening the study of plane geometry.
Tangent to a circleTangent perpendicular to radiusNumber and length of tangents from an external point
Key terms
Tangent
A line that touches a circle at exactly one point.
Point of contact
The single point where a tangent meets the circle.
Tangent–radius property
A tangent is perpendicular to the radius at the point of contact.
Equal tangents
Tangents from an external point have equal length.
Extra questions & answers
EXERCISE 10.1
EXERCISE 10.2
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The circumference of a circle of radius r is:
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