Constructing Tangents to a Circle
Geometric Construction of Tangents from an External Point
Explore how to construct tangents to a circle from an external point using geometric tools. Follow the steps or try constructing them yourself!
Construction Steps
Current Step:
Click "Step 1" to begin constructing tangents to a circle from an external point.
The Geometry Behind Tangents
Key Concepts:
Tangents to a circle from an external point can be constructed using basic geometric principles:
- A tangent is perpendicular to the radius at the point of contact
- Two tangents can be drawn from any external point to a circle
- The lengths of these two tangents from the external point to the points of contact are equal
Construction Steps:
- Draw the given circle with center O
- Mark the external point P
- Join OP and find its midpoint M
- Draw a circle with diameter OP, intersecting the original circle at T and T'
- PT and PT' are the required tangents
