What is defined as the tangent point?

What is defined as the tangent point?

• A. The center of the circle
• B. The point where a tangent line touches the circle
• C. The intersection of a tangent and a radius
• D. The point where a tangent line intersects a chord

Answer: (B)

When a line is tangent to a circle, it touches the circle at exactly one point, and that point is called the tangent point (the point of tangency). This point lies on both the circle and the tangent line, and the radius drawn to it is perpendicular to the tangent line. This perpendicular relationship is a handy check in problems. The center is simply the circle’s center, not the contact point. Saying the tangent line intersects a radius describes a relation that occurs at the tangent point but isn’t the defining description of the tangent point itself. And the tangent line intersecting a chord refers to a different geometric situation, not the contact point where the line first touches the circle.

When a line is tangent to a circle, it touches the circle at exactly one point, and that point is called the tangent point (the point of tangency). This point lies on both the circle and the tangent line, and the radius drawn to it is perpendicular to the tangent line. This perpendicular relationship is a handy check in problems.

The center is simply the circle’s center, not the contact point. Saying the tangent line intersects a radius describes a relation that occurs at the tangent point but isn’t the defining description of the tangent point itself. And the tangent line intersecting a chord refers to a different geometric situation, not the contact point where the line first touches the circle.