CLASS : X — HOME ASSIGNMENT (MATHEMATICS)
Chapter: Circles — Tangents and Related Theorems
1. In the figure, PQ is a chord of length 8 cm of a circle of radius 5 cm. The
tangents at P and Q meet at a point T. Find the length of TP.
P Q
Solution: Let O be the centre. PQ = 8 cm, radius = 5 cm. Draw OM ■ PQ. Then PM = 4 cm.
Using Pythagoras theorem, OM = √(5²–4²)=3 cm. Also, TP² = OP²–OM²=25–9=16 ⇒ TP = 4 cm.
2. In the figure, CD is a tangent and AB is a diameter of the circle centered at O. If
∠DCB = 20°, find ∠ADC.
Solution: ∠ACB = 90° (angle in semicircle). By tangent–chord theorem, ∠DCB = ∠DAC = 20°.
So, in ∆ADC, 20° + ∠ADC + 90° = 180° ⇒ ∠ADC = 70°.
3. O is centre of a circle of radius 5 cm. PA and BC are tangents at A and B
respectively. If OP = 13 cm, find the length of tangents PA and BC.
Solution: Tangents from an external point are equal. Let PA = BC = x. Then OP² = OA² + AP² ⇒
13² = 5² + x² ⇒ x² = 144 ⇒ x = 12 cm.
4. PT and PS are tangents to a circle from point P such that PT = 4 cm and ∠TPS =
60°. Find the length of chord TS and the radius.
Solution: By cosine rule, TS² = 4² + 4² – 2×4×4×cos60° = 16 + 16 – 16 = 16 ⇒ TS = 4 cm. Also,
TS = r√3 ⇒ r = 4/√3 = 2.31 cm.
5. AB is diameter, AC a chord such that ∠BAC = 30°. Tangent at C meets AB at D.
Show that BC = BD.
Solution: ∠ACB = 90° (angle in semicircle), so ∠ADC = 60°. In ∆BCD, angles are 30°–60°–90°,
hence BC = BD.
6. AB is chord, AOC is diameter, AT is tangent at A. Prove that ∠BAT = ∠ACB.
Solution: By tangent–chord theorem, angle between tangent and chord at a point = angle in
alternate segment. Hence ∠BAT = ∠ACB.
7. Prove that in two concentric circles, the chord of the larger circle which touches
the smaller circle is bisected at the point of contact.
Proof: Let O be common centre, AB chord of larger circle touching smaller circle at P. Since OP
■ AB, the perpendicular from centre bisects chord. Hence, AP = PB.
8. Two circles touch each other at point C. Prove that the common tangent at C
bisects the common external tangent at P and Q.
Proof: Let O■, O■ be centres. Line through O■O■ passes through C. By symmetry, triangles
on both sides of tangent at C are congruent, hence tangent at C bisects PQ.
9. In isosceles ∆ABC with AB = AC, a circle is inscribed touching BC at P, AC at Q,
and AB at R. Prove that P bisects BC.
Proof: Let AR = AQ = x, BR = BP = y, CQ = CP = z. Since AB = AC ⇒ x + y = x + z ⇒ y = z ⇒
BP = CP. Hence P bisects BC.
10. A circle with centre O and radius 8 cm is inscribed in quadrilateral ABCD with
points of contact P, Q, R, S. If AD ⊥ DC, BC = 30 cm and BS = 24 cm, find DC.
Solution: Tangents from same point are equal, so BP = BS = 24 cm. Then PC = BC – BP = 6 cm
= PD. Thus, DC = 18 cm.