CIRCLES

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS / RESULTS:

A tangent to a circle is a line that intersects/touches the circle at only one point.
There is only one tangent at a point on a circle
There are exactly two tangents to a circle through a point lying outside the circle.

The tangent at any point of a circle is perpendicular to the radius

through the point of contact.

The length of tangents drawn from an external point to a circle is equal.

SOME ILLUSTRATIONS AND EXAMPLES:

MCQ:
1. In the below figure, AB is a chord of the circle and AOC is its diameter such that ∟ACB = 50°.
If AT is the tangent to the circle at the point A, then ∟BAT is equal to
(a) 65° (b) 60° (c) 50°
(d) 40°
Solution: (C)
∠BAC =1800 − (∠ACB+∠CBA) Angle sum property of
triangle
=1800 − (500 + 900)
= 400
Now, ∠BAC+∠BAT =900 Tangent is perpendicular to radius
⇒∠BAT =500
2. A circle has a number of tangents equal to
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) Infinite
Solution: (d)
A circle has infinitely many tangents, touching the circle at infinite points on its circumference.
3. If the angle between two radii of a circle is 110º, then the angle between the tangents at the ends of
the radii is:
(a) 90º (b) 50º (c) 70º (c) 40º
Solution: (c)
If the angle between two radii of a circle is 110º, then the angle between tangents is
180º − 110º = 70º. (By circles and tangents properties)
4. From a point P which is at a distance of 13 cm from the centre O of a circle of radius 5 cm, the pair
of tangents PQ and PR to the circle are drawn. Then the area of the quadrilateral PQOR is
(a) 60cm2 (b) 65cm2 (c) 32cm2 (c) 32.5cm2
Solution: (a)
Step - 1: Find the length of PQ and PR (Using Pythagoras Property)
PQ = PR = 12cm
Step - 2: Find Area of quadrilateral
= 2 ( Area of Triangle POR or POQ)
= 2 × (1/2) × 12 × 5
= 60cm2
5. The length of the tangent from an external point A on a circle with centre
O is
(a) always greater than OA (b) equal to OA
(c) always less than OA (d) cannot be estimated
Solution: (c)
i. The tangent is perpendicular to the radius of the circle, then the angle between them is 90º.
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 ii. So, OA is the hypotenuse for the right triangle OAB, which is right-angled at B.
iii. As we know, for any right triangle, the hypotenuse is the longest side.
iv. Therefore the length of the tangent from an external point is always less than the OA.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
6. In Figure given, PQL and PRM are tangents to the circle withcentre O at the points Q and R,
respectively and S is a point on the circle such that∠SQL = 50° and ∠SRM = 60°. Find ∠QSR?
Solution:
Here ∠OSQ = ∠OQS = 90°–50° = 40° and
∠RSO = ∠SRO = 90° – 60° = 30°.
Therefore, ∠QSR = 40° + 30° = 70°
7. BOA is a diameter of a circle and the tangent at a point P meets
BA extended at T. If ∠PBO = 30°, then find ∠PTA ?
Solution:

∠BPA = 90°,
∠PAB = ∠OPA = 60°.
Also, OP⊥PT.
Therefore, ∠APT = 30° and ∠PTA = 60° – 30° =30°.

8. In the figure quadrilateral ABCD is drawn to circumscribe a circle.

Prove that AD + BC = AB + CD

Solution:

As we know that, length of tangents drawn

from the external point are equal.
Therefore,

AP = AS.....(1)

BP = BQ.....(2)

CR = CQ.....(3)

DR = DS.....(4)

Adding equation (1),(2),(3) and (4), we get

AP+BP+CR+DR=AS+BQ+CQ+DS

(AP+BP)+(CR+DR)=(AS+DS)+(BQ+CQ)

⇒AB+CD=AD+BC

9. The lengths of tangents drawn from an external point to a circle

are equal.
Solution:
Given : A circle with centre O,
A point P lying outside the circle and two
tangents PQ, PR on the circle from P
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 To Prove :
PQ = PR.
Join OP, OQ and OR.
Then ∠ OQP and ∠ ORP are right angles,

OQ = OR (Radii of the same circle)

OP = OP (Common)
Therefore, ∆ OQP ≅ ∆ ORP (RHS)
This gives PQ = PR (CPCT)
10. In Figure givern, from an external point P, a tangent PT and a line segment PAB is drawn to a circle
with centre O. ON is perpendicular on the chord AB.
Prove that : (i) PA . PB = PN2 – AN2
(ii) PN2 – AN2 = OP2 – OT2
(iii) PA.PB = PT
Solution:
(i) PA . PB = (PN – AN) (PN + BN)
= (PN – AN) (PN + AN) (As AN = BN)
= PN2 – AN2
(ii) PN2 – AN2 = (OP2 – ON2 ) – AN2 (As ON⊥PN)
= OP2 – (ON2 + AN2 )
= OP2 – OA2 (As ON⊥AN)
= OP2 – OT2 (As OA = OT)
(iii) From (i) and (ii)
PA.PB = OP2 – OT2
= PT2 (As ∠OTP = 90°)
PRACTICE QUESTIIONS
MCQS:
1. If the circumference of a circle increases from 4π to 8π, then its area will become
A. half B. 2 times C. 4 times D. does not change
2. The distance between two parallel tangents to a circle of radius 5cm is:
A. 10cm B. 11cm C. 12cm D. 14cm
3. At one end A of a diameter AB of a circle of radius 5 cm, tangent XAY is drawn to the circle.
The length of the chord CD parallel to XY and at adistance 8 cm from A is
(A) 4 cm (B) 5 cm (C) 6 cm (D) 8 cm
4. If angle between two radii of a circle is 130º, the angle betweenthe tangents at the ends of the
radii is :
(A) 90º (B) 50º (C) 70º (D) 40º
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
5. Prove that the tangents drawn at the end- points of the diameter of a circle are parallel.
6. If all the sides of a parallelogram touch a circle, then prove that the parallelogram is a rhombus.
7. If from an external point B of a circle with centre O, two tangents BC andBD are drawn such that
∟DBC = 120°, prove that BC + BD = BO, i.e.,BO = 2BC.
8. Draw a circle and two lines parallel to a given line such that one is a tangent and the other, a
secant to the circle.
9. Two concentric circles are of radii 5 cm and 3 cm. Find the length of the chord of the larger
circle which touches the smaller circle.
10. A quadrilateral ABCD is drawn to circumscribe a circle . Prove that AB + CD = AD + BC
11. If a, b, c are the sides of a right triangle where c is the hypotenuse, prove that the radius r of the
circle which touches the sides of the triangle is given by

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 𝑎+𝑏−𝑐
r=
2
12. In Fig given, common tangents AB and CD to two circles
intersect at E. Prove that AB = CD.

13. Prove that a diameter AB of a circle bisects all those

chords which are parallel to the tangent at the point A.
14. Two tangents PA and PB are drawn to a circle with centre O such that ∟𝐴𝑃𝐵 = 1200. Prove that
OP=2AP
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
15. If a hexagon ABCDEF circumscribe a circle, prove that AB + CD + EF = BC + DE + FA.
16. Two circles with centres O and O' of radii 3 cm and 4 cm,
respectively intersect at two points P and Q such that OP
and O'P are tangents to the two circles. Find the
length of the common chord PQ.
17. Prove that opposite sides of a quadrilateral
circumscribing a circle subtend supplementary angles at
the centre of the circle.
18. In fig. circle is inscribed in a quadrilateral ABCD in
which ∟𝐵= 900. If AD = 23cm, AB = 29cm, and DS =
5cm, find the radius „r‟ of the circle

19. Prove that opposites sides of a quadrilateral circumscribing a circle

subtend supplementary angles at the centre of the circle.

20. Case Study I:

In a school in Chandigarh, organized a Cluster Level Football Tournament for boys. The Football
team was very excited. The team captain Amar directed the team to assemble in the ground for
practices. Only three boys Pavan, Salman and Arjun showed up. Amar drew a circle of radius 5
m on the ground. The center A was the position of Pavan. Amar marked a point N, 13 m away
from center A as her own position. From the point N, she drew two tangential lines NS and NR
and gave positions S and R to Salman and
Arjun. Amar passes the ball to Pavan,
Pavan passes it to Salman, Salman passes it
to Amar, Amar passes it to Arjun, Arjun
passes it to Pavan, Pavan passes it to
Salman and so on.
i. What is the measure of ∠NSA?
ii. Find the distance between Salman
and Amar.
iii. How far does Amar have to passe the ball towards Arjun?
21. Case Study II:
A student draws two circles that touch each other externally at point K with centres A and B and
radii 6 cm and 4cm, respectively as shown in the figure
i. Find the value of PA?
ii. Find the value of PQ?
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 iii. If two circles touch externally, then the number of common
tangents can be drawn is____
22. Case Study II:
A Ferris wheel (or a big wheel in the United Kingdom) is an
amusement ride consisting of a rotating upright wheel with multiple
passengers carrying components (commonly referred to as passenger
cars, cabins, tubs, capsules, gondolas, or pods) attached to the rim in
such a way that as the wheel turns, they are kept upright, usually by gravity. After taking a ride in
Ferris wheel, Aarti came out from the crowd and was observing her friends who were enjoying
the ride. She was curious about the different angles and measures that the wheel will form. She
forms the figure as given below.
i. Find ∠RQP.
ii. Find ∠RSQ.
iii. If
PQ=40
m and
OQ=30
m then
find
PO?

TEST PAPER – I

MARKS : 20 TIME : 35MIN

I. Answer the following questions

(5 × 2M = 10M)

1. O is the centre of the circle and BCD is a tangent to it at C.

Prove that ∟𝐵𝐴𝐶+ ∟𝐴𝐶𝐷=900

2. Two concentric circles have centre O, OP= 4cm, OB = 5cm. AB is a chord of the outer circle and
tangent to the inner circle at P. Find the length of AB.

3. In the isosceles triangle ABC in fig. AB = AC, show that BF = FC

4. Two tangents PQ and PR are drawn from an external point to a circle with centre O. Prove that
QORP is a cyclic quadrilateral.
5. In fig. two circles touch each other externally at C. Prove that the common tangent at C bisects the
other two tangents

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 6. Prove that the centre of a circle touching two intersecting lines lies on the angle bisector of the lines.

7. In fig. circle touches the side BC of a triangle ABC at the point P and AB and AC produced at Q and
1
R. Show that AQ = 2(𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑓 Δ𝐴𝐵𝐶)
8. PQ is a chord of length 8 cm of acircle of radius 5 cm. The tangents at P and Q intersect at a point T
Find the length TP.

TEST PAPER – II

I. Answer the following questions (5 × 2M = 10M)

1. If from an external point B of a circle with centre O, two tangents BC and BD are drawn such that
∟DBC = 120°, prove that BC + BD = BO, i.e., BO = 2BC.

2. Two tangents PQ and PR are drawn from an external point to a circle with centre O. Prove that
QORP is a cyclic quadrilateral.
3. BOA is a diameter of a circle and the tangent at a point P meets BA extended at T. If ∠PBO = 30°,
then find ∠PTA ?
4. In Figure given, XY and XY are two parallel tangents to a circle with centre O and another tangent
AB with point of contact C intersecting XY at A and XY at B. Prove that ∟ AOB = 90°.

5. Prove that the line segments joining the points of contact of two parallel tangents is a diameter of the
circle.
II. Answer the following questions (4 × 3M = 12M)
6. Two tangents PA and PB are drawn to a circle with centre O such that ∟𝐴𝑃𝐵 = 1200. Prove that
OP=2AP
7. If all the sides of a parallelogram touch a circle, then prove that the parallelogram is a rhombus.
8. Two tangents TP and TQ are drawn to a circle with centre O from an external point T. Prove that
∟PTQ=2∟OPQ.
9. A quadrilateral ABCD is drawn to circumscribe a circle . Prove that AB + CD = AD + BC
III. Answer the following questions (2 × 4M = 8M)
10. Prove that the angle between the two tangents drawn from an external point to a circle is
supplementary to the angle subtended by the line-segment joining the points of contact at the centre.
11. The radius of the in-circle of a triangle is 4 cm and the segments into which one side is divided by
the point of contact are 6 cm and 8 cm. Determine the other two sides of the triangle.

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