Common Core: High School - Geometry : Construct Tangent Lines from Outside a Circle: CCSS.Math.Content.HSG-C.A.4

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: High School - Geometry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Construct Tangent Lines From Outside A Circle: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsg C.A.4

Calculate a point that is tangent to the circle  and passes through the origin.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

explain

Example Question #2 : Construct Tangent Lines From Outside A Circle: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsg C.A.4

Calculate a point that is tangent to the circle  and passes through the origin.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To construct a line that is tangent to a point on the circle and passes through the origin, recall what it means for a line to be "tangent". A line that is tangent to a point on a circle means that the line will only touch the circle at that specific point.

Given the equation of the circle,

the center and radius of the circle can be determined.

The center is located at  and the radius is .

Therefore, the center is located at  and the radius is three. Plotting the circle and tangent line to the origin results in the following.

Screen shot 2016 07 14 at 10.07.14 am

Example Question #3 : Construct Tangent Lines From Outside A Circle: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsg C.A.4

Plot1

Construct a line that is tangent to a point on the circle and passes through the point plotted outside the circle.

Possible Answers:

Plot6.1

Plot8.1

Plot2.1

Plot5.1

Plot3.1

Correct answer:

Plot2.1

Explanation:

To construct a line that is tangent to a point on the circle and passes through the point outside the circle, recall what it means for a line to be "tangent". A line that is tangent to a point on a circle means that the line will only touch the circle at that specific point.

Using the plotted circle and the given point, two potential lines can be drawn that will touch the circle at one point. One possible line would touch the circle on the left half of the circumference while the other potential line would touch the circle on the right half.

Plot1

Constructing a potential tangent line, a point can be plotted on the circle as follows.

From here, connect the given point outside the circle to the point on the circle with a straight line. Thus resulting in a tangent line to the circle.

Plot2.1

Example Question #3 : Construct Tangent Lines From Outside A Circle: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsg C.A.4

Determine whether the statement is true or false.

Plot12.1

The line is tangent to the circle.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

To construct a line that is tangent to a point on the circle, recall what it means for a line to be "tangent". A line that is tangent to a point on a circle means that the line will only touch the circle at that specific point.

Looking at the image, it is seen that the line only touches the circle once therefore, the line is tangent to the circle. Thus this statement is true.

Plot12.1

Example Question #5 : Construct Tangent Lines From Outside A Circle: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsg C.A.4

Plot10

Construct a line that is tangent to a point on the circle and passes through the point plotted outside the circle.

Possible Answers:

Plot6.1

Plot5.1

Plot8.1

Plot10.1

Plot2.1

Correct answer:

Plot10.1

Explanation:

To construct a line that is tangent to a point on the circle and passes through the point outside the circle, recall what it means for a line to be "tangent". A line that is tangent to a point on a circle means that the line will only touch the circle at that specific point.

Using the plotted circle and the given point, two potential lines can be drawn that will touch the circle at one point. One possible line would touch the circle on the left half of the circumference while the other potential line would touch the circle on the right half.

Plot10

Constructing a potential tangent line, a point can be plotted on the circle as follows.

From here, connect the given point outside the circle to the point on the circle with a straight line. Thus resulting in a tangent line to the circle.

Plot10.1

Example Question #4 : Construct Tangent Lines From Outside A Circle: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsg C.A.4

Determine whether the statement is true or false.

Given a circle, a tangent line to the circle can be constructed if it intersects the circle at two points.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

To construct a line that is tangent to a point on the circle, recall what it means for a line to be "tangent". A line that is tangent to a point on a circle means that the line will only touch the circle at that specific point.

Therefore, by definition the statement is false.

Example Question #2 : Construct Tangent Lines From Outside A Circle: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsg C.A.4

Determine whether the statement is true or false.

Plot9.1

The line is tangent to the circle.

Possible Answers:

True

False

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

To construct a line that is tangent to a point on the circle, recall what it means for a line to be "tangent". A line that is tangent to a point on a circle means that the line will only touch the circle at that specific point.

Therefore, looking at the graph

Plot9.1

it is seen that the line only intersects the circle once. Thus, the statement "The line is tangent to the circle." is true.

Example Question #7 : Construct Tangent Lines From Outside A Circle: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsg C.A.4

Calculate a point that is tangent to the circle  and passes through the point .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To construct a line that is tangent to a point on the circle and passes through the point , recall what it means for a line to be "tangent". A line that is tangent to a point on a circle means that the line will only touch the circle at that specific point.

Given the equation of the circle,

the center and radius of the circle can be determined.

The center is located at  and the radius is .

Therefore, the center is located at  and the radius is three. Plotting the circle and tangent line to the point  results in the following.

Screen shot 2016 07 14 at 10.42.33 am

Therefore, the point on the circle that creates a tangent line, .

Example Question #8 : Construct Tangent Lines From Outside A Circle: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsg C.A.4

Calculate a point that is tangent to the circle  and passes through the point .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To construct a line that is tangent to a point on the circle and passes through the point , recall what it means for a line to be "tangent". A line that is tangent to a point on a circle means that the line will only touch the circle at that specific point.

Given the equation of the circle,

the center and radius of the circle can be determined.

The center is located at  and the radius is .

Therefore, the center is located at  and the radius is three. Plotting the circle and tangent line to the point  results in the following.

Screen shot 2016 07 14 at 10.53.27 am

Therefore, the point on the circle that creates a tangent line with the point given is .

Example Question #9 : Construct Tangent Lines From Outside A Circle: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsg C.A.4

 

Plot4

Construct a line that is tangent to the circle. 

Possible Answers:

Plot9.1

Plot2.1

None of the images depict a tangent line.

Plot4.1

Plot5.1

Correct answer:

Plot4.1

Explanation:

To construct a line that is tangent to a point on the circle, recall what it means for a line to be "tangent". A line that is tangent to a point on a circle means that the line will only touch the circle at that specific point.

Using the plotted circle one possible line would touch the circle is as follows. 

Plot4.1

Thus resulting in a tangent line to the circle.

All Common Core: High School - Geometry Resources

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