RECALL

Tangent to a circle.
At the end of this lesson, student able to :

 State the number of common tangents to

two circles.
 State the properties related to the
common tangents to two circles.
Definition Of Common Tangent
To Two Circle
Exercise
State the maximum number of common tangents
to the circle.
Q
a)

S
R T
P

U
b) Q

P T
S

U
c) Q
R

P B
U
A

T
d)

S
B
R A

P
CIRCLES OF THE SAME SIZE
P Q
a)
PQ = RS
A B
PR = QS
PQ // RS
R S

Q
b) P T

PQ = RS
A S B
PR = TU = QS
PQ // RS
R U S PR // TU // QS
C)
P Q
K M
PQ = RS,
A B KL = MN,
PR = QS
N L PQ // RS,
R S PR // QS
CIRCLES OF DIFFERENT SIZE
a) P

Q PQ = RS,
QT = ST
A B T
AP // BQ,
AR // BS
S
ABT is a straight line
R

b) P
U PQ = RS
Q
QT = ST
T
A
B PA // QB,
AR // BS
S
V ABT is a straight line
R
c)
P

Q
K
M PQ = RS,
T QT = ST,
A B KL = MN
N L
S
PA // QB,
R
AR // BS
ABT is a straight line
The distance between the contact points of
corresponding common tangents are equal

For two circles of different sizes, the

corresponding common tangents meet at a
points on the straight line that passes through
the centres of the circles
The radii of two circles drawn from the
respective contact points of a common
tangent are parallel

In the case of two circles intersecting at only

one point, the tangent passing through the
point of intersection is perpendicular to the
line joining the centres of the circles
EXAMPLES
G

In the figure, points A and P

H
B are the centres of two
J
circles. Identify and state A
Q
B

(a)The three common

L
R

tangents to the two K

circles.
(b)The side which has the
same length as
(i) GH (ii)
LJ
Solution

a)Common tangents are GPHJ,

KRLJ and
PQR.

b)(i)GH = KL
(ii)LJ = HJ
1) The figure shows two circles with centres A and B
respectively. Their radii are 4 cm.
D J E

A K B

F L G

a) State the maximum number of common tangents to the circles. 3

b) Find the length of
(i) DJ
4c
m
(ii) JL
8
cm
8
(iii) FG
cm
2) The figure shows common tangents to two circles with
centres A and B.
G
X
H

A D B

L
Y
K
State
a)The maximum number common tangents to the 3
circles. G
H KL.
b)The side which has the same length with
A parallel to
c)The side which is
(i) BH G
B
(ii) AK L
 6R 5P

A A
1P 3E R P E N D I 4C U L A R

Q I O A
U U M L
A S M L
L O E
2D I S T A N C E L
 COMMON TANGENT TO TWO
CIRCLES
A straight line that touches each of the circles at only
one point.
I
B
A
J

F G
Q
P
P E Q

H D

K
C
L

4 common tangents
AB = CD 3 common tangent
EF = GH IJ = KL
PA // QB, PC //QD PI // QJ, PK // QL
 A
B

P
P
Q
Q

D
C

2 common tangents 1 common tangents

AB = CD
PA // QB, PC// QD
 HOMEWORK
Page 217, No. 1 - 4