Prove that the tangents drawn at the ends of a diameter of a circle are parallel

Solution:

A tangent to a circle is a line that intersects the circle at only one point.

Let's draw the tangents PQ and RS to the circle at the ends of the diameter AB.

According to Theorem 10.1: The tangent at any point of a circle is perpendicular to the radius through the point of contact.

We know that radius is perpendicular to the tangent at the point of contact.

Thus, OA ⊥ PQ and OB ⊥ RS

Since the tangents are perpendicular to the radius,

∠PAO = 90°, ∠RBO = 90°

and ∠OAQ = 90°, ∠OBS = 90°

Here ∠OAQ is equal to ∠OBR and ∠PAO is equal to ∠OBS, which are two pairs of alternate interior angles.

If the alternate interior angles are equal, then lines PQ and RS should be parallel.

We know that PQ and RS are the tangents drawn to the circle at the ends of the diameter AB.

Hence, it is proved that tangents drawn at the ends of a diameter of a circle are parallel.

☛ Check: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Maths Chapter 10

Video Solution:

Prove that the tangents drawn at the ends of a diameter of a circle are parallel

Maths NCERT Solutions Class 10 Chapter 10 Exercise 10.2 Question 4

Summary:

Thus, we've proved that the tangents drawn at the ends of a diameter of a circle are parallel.

☛ Related Questions:

• Prove that the perpendicular at the point of contact to the tangent to a circle passes through the centre.
• The length of a tangent from a point A at distance 5 cm from the centre of the circle is 4 cm. Find the radius of the circle
• 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.
• A quadrilateral ABCD is drawn to circumscribe a circle (see Fig. 10.12). Prove that AB + CD = AD + BC