Tangents and Chords- These are not Lords

S.no. Diagram

1. The perpendicular from the centre of a circle to a chord of the

circle bisects the chord.
Conversely, the line joining the centre of the circle and the P
midpoint of a chord is perpendicular to the chord.
A B
R

2. Equal chords of a circle or congruent circles are equidistant from

the centre. E A
Conversely, two chords of a circle or congruent circles that are
equidistant from the centre, are equal. P

Q
C B
F

3. In a circle or congruent circles equal chords subtend equal E A

angles at the centre.
Conversely, chords, which subtend equal angles at the centre of
the same or congruent circles, are equal.

C B
F

4. Angles subtended in the same segment are equal. P1 P2

AP1B = AP2B.

A B

5. The angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference C

subtended by the same arc. AOP = 2ACP.

A P
6. Angle subtended in a semicircle is 90o. AOP = 90o
P

A B
O

7. The tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius drawn to

the point of contact and conversely, the radius drawn to the point
of contact is perpendicular to the tangent.
E

R P S
8. Two tangents drawn from a common external point are equal in A
length. PA = PB

O
P

B
9. The products of the intercepts of two intersecting chords are
equal. CP CQ = CR CS P S
C Q
R

10. The products of the intercepts of two intersecting secants to P Q

a circle from an external point. CP CQ = CR CS
C

S
R
11. The square of the length of the tangent from an external point is
B
equal to the product of the intercepts of the secant passing
A P
through this point. PA PB = PC2

C
12. The angle between a tangent and a chord through the point of
contact is equal to the angle in the alternate segment.
CBP2 = CAB = Xo & P1BA = ACB = Yo A C
X0 Y0

Y0 X0

P1 B P2

13. The lengths of the direct common tangents and the lengths of the C
transverse common tangents are equal.
B
For the two circles with centres A and B, BC and AD are the
direct common tangents, and CD and AB are the transverse
common tangents. O
O P
2
1 D
A

14. Length of direct common tangent =

(distance between centres)2 (r1 r2 )2

Length of transverse common tangent =

(distance between centres)2 (r1 r2 )2

The application of above listed concepts has been given in the following examples

Example 1: O is the centre of the circle. OP = 7.5cm, AB = 5 cm. and radius OT = 4.5 cm. Find PB.

Sol: OT is perpendicular to PT as tangent and radius are perpendicularat the point of contact.
Applying Pythagoras theorem in the right-angled triangle OTP

(OP)2 = (PT)2 + (OT)2, you get TP = 6.

Now, (TP) 2 = PAPB,
(6)2= PA (PA+5), you get PA= 4 cm. Hence, PB = 9 cm.

T
P

A
O

Example 2: In the figure, PQ = 14cm, QR = 9 cm and PR = 17 cm. Find AQ, BR and PC.
Sol: Tangents from an external point are equal in length.
Let PC= PB = x cm; QC= QA= y cm; RA=RB= z cm.
x + y = 14i)
y + z = 9ii)
z + x =17..iii)
Adding all, you get 2x+2y+2z=40.iv)
Subtracting i) from iv) you get z=6. Similarly, you can get x= 11, y= 3.

x x

C B
y z

Q A z R
y

Example 3: Chords AB and CD intersect at right angles. Find BAC + ABD.

Sol: By angle sum property, in triangle BOD, 1+4=90o.i)

By angle sum property, in triangle AOC, 2+3= 90o.i)

Also, 1= 3; 2 = 4.(angles in the same segment are equal)

Adding i) & ii), you get 2(2+1) = 180o. Hence, BAC + ABD = 90o.

2 O
A B
1
4

D
Best Wishes!!
Team Bulls Eye