Tangent - Perpendicular to Radius

A tangent to a circle is a line intersecting the circle at exactly one point, the point of tangency or tangency point. An important result is that the radius from the center of the circle to the point of tangency is perpendicular to the tangent line.

Let $T$ be the point of tangency, $O$ be the center of the circle, and $P$ be the foot of the altitude from $O$ to the tangency line. Suppose that $P$ and $T$ are different points.

Since $\angle OPT = 90^{\circ}$ and $OT < OP$, $\angle OTP > \angle OPT$, so $\angle OTP > 90^{\circ}$. But then $\triangle OPT$ has an angle sum greater than $180^{\circ}$, which is a contradiction. Thus $P$ and $T$ must be the same point, so the radius from the center of the circle to the point of tangency is perpendicular to the tangent line, as desired. $_\square$

Given a circle and a point on the circle, it is relatively easy to find the tangent line using coordinate geometry. For example,

A circle of radius $3$ is centered at the origin. What is the equation of the tangent line of the circle that passes through the point $\Big(\frac{3\sqrt{2}}{2}, -\frac{3\sqrt{2}}{2}\Big)?$

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The slope of the line from the center of the circle (the origin) to the given point $\Big(\frac{3\sqrt{2}}{2}, -\frac{3\sqrt{2}}{2}\Big)$ is $-1$. Therefore, the slope of the tangent line is 1, and since the tangent line passes through the point $\Big(\frac{3\sqrt{2}}{2}, -\frac{3\sqrt{2}}{2}\Big),$ the equation of the tangent line is $y=x-3\sqrt{2}.\ _\square$

The perpendicularity fact can also prove a special (but important!) case of power of a point. Suppose $P$ is a point in the plane of a circle $O$, so that $PT$ is tangent to the circle at $T$ and $PO$ hits the circle at $A$ and $B$ $($with $PA<PB).$ Then $\triangle OTP$ is right, so

$$OP^2=PT^2+OT^2 \implies (r+AP)^2=PT^2+r^2$$

and therefore

$$PT^2=(r+AP)^2-r^2=AP \cdot (AP+2r),$$

which is exactly what power of a point predicts since $PB=PA+2r$.

The perpendicularity condition is particularly useful when dealing with multiple circles, as their common tangent must be perpendicular to both radii to the tangent points. This also implies that those two radii are parallel, so the tangent line, two radii, and the line between the two centers form a trapezoid.

Two externally tangent circles $O_1$ and $O_2$ have radii of 3 and 5, respectively. What is the length of their common external tangent?

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Suppose the common tangent is tangent to the circle with radius 3 at $T_1$ and to the circle with radius 5 at $T_2$. Let $X$ be the foot of the altitude from $O_1$ to $T_2O_2$. Then $T_1T_2=O_1X$, and $O_1X^2+XO_2^2=O_1O_2^2$. But $XO_2^2=T_2O_2-T_1O_1=5-3=2$, and $O_1O_2=5+3=8$, so $T_1T_2^2=8^2-2^2=60$. Therefore, $T_1T_2=2\sqrt{15}$, which is the desired length. $_\square$

• Alternate Segment Theorem
• Tangent - Subtended Arc