10-5 Tangents

• tangent: a line that intersects exactly

one point on a circle

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• If a radius is drawn to the tangent point,
then the tangent line is perpendicular to
the radius.

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 And if a line is perpendicular to
a radius of a circle at its endpoint
on the circle, then you KNOW
the line is a tangent !
DUH !

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If two segments from the same
outside point are tangent, then
they are
congruent.
X

Y
How far is point Y from point X ?

Pythagorean Theorem…

X
Y
6 8

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• That’s it!

TANGENT !!!