Objectives

 Define and illustrate tangent lines and

point of tangency.
 Enumerate the properties on tangent
lines.
 Reflect and appreciate how other
people touch one’s life.
Go off on a tangent
- means to suddenly
start talking about a
completely new subject.
Tangent
– a completely different
line of thought or action.
 What is a tangent?
Tangent Line
- is a line coplanar with the circle and
intersects it in one and only one point. The
point of intersection of the line and the circle
is called the point of tangency.

Tangent Line Point of tangency

P

l
 P

l
A
 Postulate of Tangent Line
At a given point on a circle, one and only one line can
be drawn that is tangent to a circle.

To illustrate, consider P on the right.

if A is a point on the circle, then one
and only one line can be drawn
through A that is tangent to a
circle. P

l A
 Perpendicular

Radius P

l A
Point of tangency Line of tangency
 THEOREM 1
If a line is tangent to a circle, then it is
perpendicular to the radius drawn to the point of
tangency.
Symbol: If l is tangent to P at A, then l ꓕ PA.
Perpendicular

Radius P

l A

Point of tangency Line of tangency

 THEOREM 2
If a line is perpendicular to a radius of a circle
at its endpoint that is on the circle, then the
line is tangent to the circle.
Symbol: If l ꓕ PA, then is tangent to P at A, then l.
Perpendicular

Radius P

l A

Point of tangency Line of tangency

 How many points of
tangency can you have
from one point?
 THEOREM 3
If the two segments from the same exterior
point are tangent to a circle, then the two
segments are congruent.
C

/
B
A
/
D
 Investigative Activity
Do the following activity using
GEOGEBRA.
1. Construct a circle.
2. Plot an exterior point using the point tool: “New
Point”
3. Construct two tangent lines of the circle that contains
the exterior point. Use the special tool: “Tangent” and
click any point on the circle and the exterior point C.
4. Instruct GeoGebra to show each point of tangency. Use
point tool: “Intersect Two Objects”, then click on the
circle and one tangent line. Do the same for the other
tangent line.
 Investigative Activity
5. Construct the tangent segments. Click line tool:
“Segment Between Two Points” and connect D to C, as
well as E to C.
6. Hide the two tangent lines. Click first part of the
tangent line that is not in CD. Click “edit” in the menu bar
and click “show/Hide Objects”. Do the same to the other
tangent line.
7. Measure the lengths of CD and CE. Use the
measurement tool: “Distance or Length”, then click CD
and CE. What do you notice with the lengths?
8. Use the movement tool: “Move”, click on C and drag it
to a different position. What do you notice about CD and
CE?
 REFLECT
A tangent touches a circle at a
point.
Who had touched and made a difference in
your life? How did that person make a
difference in your life?
EVALUATION