Which statement correctly defines a tangent line?

Which statement correctly defines a tangent line?

• A. Straight line which touches the circle at two points
• B. Straight line which touches the outside of a circle at only one point
• C. The line from the center to the circumference
• D. A line parallel to a radius

Answer: (B)

A tangent line is a straight line that touches the circle at exactly one point and does not pass through the interior of the circle. At the point of contact, the tangent is perpendicular to the radius drawn to that point. This helps explain why the line sits outside the circle except for that single touch point. The correct statement captures this idea by describing a line that touches the circle at only one point, meaning it does not cross the circle. The other options describe different concepts: touching at two points defines a secant, the line from the center to the circumference is a radius, and a line parallel to a radius has no implication about touching the circle.

A tangent line is a straight line that touches the circle at exactly one point and does not pass through the interior of the circle. At the point of contact, the tangent is perpendicular to the radius drawn to that point. This helps explain why the line sits outside the circle except for that single touch point.

The correct statement captures this idea by describing a line that touches the circle at only one point, meaning it does not cross the circle. The other options describe different concepts: touching at two points defines a secant, the line from the center to the circumference is a radius, and a line parallel to a radius has no implication about touching the circle.