9. Tangents and Secants to a Circle

A tangent to a circle is a straight line that touches the circle at exactly one point, called the point of contact, while a secant is a line that intersects the circle at two different points. In this chapter, students learn the important properties of tangents and secants and how they relate to the geometry of circles.

 

One key concept studied is that the tangent drawn at any point of a circle is perpendicular to the radius at that point. The chapter also explains that two tangents drawn from an external point to a circle are equal in length. Understanding these properties helps students solve many geometric problems and develops logical reasoning used in mathematics, engineering, and design involving circular shapes.