Tangent Lines Worksheet

Tangent Lines: Properties and Theorems

Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Show all your work for full credit.

1. A line that intersects a circle at exactly one point is called a:

2. If a line is tangent to a circle, then it is   to the radius drawn to the point of tangency.

3. The point where a tangent line touches a circle is called the point of  .

4. If two tangent segments are drawn to a circle from the same external point, then the segments are  .

5. In the diagram below, line AB is tangent to circle O at point A. If OA = 5 cm and OB = 13 cm, find the length of AB.

6. A radius drawn to the point of tangency is always perpendicular to the tangent line.

7. A line can intersect a circle at three points.

8. Two tangent segments, PQ and PR, are drawn to circle S from an external point P. If PQ = 3x + 2 and PR = 5x - 8, find the value of x.