Tangent to a Circle

IMPORTANT

Tangent to a Circle: Overview

This topic explains the tangent to a circle. The word ‘tangent’ was introduced by the Danish mathematician Thomas Fineke. It comes from the Latin word ‘tangere’, which means to touch. It is a line that intersects the circle at only one point.

Important Questions on Tangent to a Circle

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In a park, four poles are standing at positions A, B, C and D around the fountain such that the cloth joining the poles AB, BC. CD and DA touches the fountain at P, Q, R and S respectively as shown in figure:

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Based on the above information, answer the following question:

If O is the centre of the circular fountain, then OSA=

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Draw a tangent at any point P on the circle having radius 3 units

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The tangent to a circle is a special case of the secant when the two endpoints of corresponding chord coincide

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The tangent to a circle is a special case of the secant.

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Two concentric circles are of radii 5 cm and 3 cm. Find the length of the chord of the larger circle which touches the smaller circle in cm.

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From a point Q, the length of the tangent to a circle is 24 cm and the distance of Q from the centre is 25 cm. The radius of the circle is

MEDIUM
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From a point Q the length of the tangent to a circle is 24 cm and the distance of Q from the centre is 25 cm. Find the radius of circle in cm.

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The tangent to a circle is a special case of the secant, when the two end points of its corresponding chord coincide.

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A circle with centre at 'O' touches the four sides of a quadrilateral ABCD internally in such a way that it divides AB in 3:1 and AB= 8 cm. If the radius of the circle is x cm, where OA = 10 cm, find the value of x.

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Two parallel lines touch the circle at points A and B, respectively. If area of the circle is 25π cm2, then AB is equal to

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ABCD  is a cyclic quadrilateral and PQ is a tangent to the circle at C. If BD is a diameter, DCQ=40° and ABD=60° then find the measure of ADB (write answer without degree symbol) is

MEDIUM
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ABCD  is a cyclic quadrilateral and PQ is a tangent to the circle at C.  If BD is a diameter, DCQ=40° and ABD=60°,  the measure of BCP=k°. Then find the value of k

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To draw a pair of tangents to a circle which are inclined to each other at an angle of 60°, it is required to draw tangents at the end points of those two radii of the circle. If the angle between them is x°, then the value of x is

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The point at which a tangent is perpendicular to the radius is called point of _____ (centre, tangency, radius)