CHAPTER 10

CIRCLES
Points to Remember :
1. Tangent to a circle at a point is perpendicular to the radius through the point of contact.
2. From a point P, lying on the circle, one and only one tangent can be drawn to it.
3. From a point, lying outside a circle, two and only two tangents can be drawn to it.
4. The lengths of the two tangents drawn from an external point to a circle are equal.
5. If two circles touch internally or externally, the point of contact lies on the straight line through the two
centres.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES

Example 1. A point P is 26 cm away from the centre O of a circle and the length PQ of the tangent segment
drawn from P to the circle is 10 cm. Find the radius of the circle.
Solution. Let PQ be a tangent to the circle from point P and OQ be the radius at the point of contact.
OQP = 90°
 OP2 = OQ2 + PQ2
( using Pythagoras theorem) P 26 cm
O
 OQ2 = OP2 – PQ2 = 262 – 102 10 c
m
= (26 + 10) (26 – 10) = 36 × 16
Q
 OQ = 6 × 4 = 24
 Radius of the circle = 24 cm.
Example 2. A circle is touching the side BC of ABC at P and touching AB and AC produced at Q and R
1
respectively. Prove that AQ  (Perimeter of ABC). [CBSE 2001, 2002]
2
Solution. Since tangents from an exterior point to a circle are equal in length.
 BP = BQ ...(i) A
CP = CR ...(ii)
and, AQ = AR ...(iii) B P C
from eqn. (iii), we have AQ = AR Q R
 AB + BQ = AC + CR
 AB + BP = AC + CP ...(iv)
[ using (i) and (ii)]
Now, Perimeter of ABC = AB + BC + AC
= AB + (BP + PC) + AC
= (AB + BP) + (AC + PC)
= 2 (AB + BP) [using (iv)]
= 2 AQ [using (i)]
1
 AQ = (Perimeter of ABC).
2
MATHEMATICS–X CIRCLES 171
Example 3. PQ and RS are two parallel tangents to a circle with centre O and another tangent XY, with
point of contact C intersects PQ at A and RS at B. Prove that AOB = 90°. [NCERT]
Solution. Join O to A, O to B and O to C.
Since tangent is perpendicular to the radius through the point of contact.
 x = y = 90°
Now, In right OMA and OCA, hyp. OA = hyp. OA ( common)
OM = OC [radii of the same circle] X
OMA = OCA [= 90° each] P M A
 OMA   OCA (RHS congruency condition) x Q
1
 1 = 2 (c.p.c.t.)
O 2 y
Similarly, 3 = 4
3 C
Now, 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 180° ( linear pair) 4
 2(2 + 3) = 180° R N B S
 2 + 3 = 90°
 AOB = 90°. Hence proved. Y
Example 4. PQR is a right-angled triangle right angled at Q with PQ = 16 cm, QR = 12 cm. A circle with
centre at O and radius r is inscribed in PQR. Find the value of r. [NCERT]
Solution. Let the circle touch the sides QR, RP P
and PQ of PQR at the points A, B and
C respectively. Join O to A and O to C.
20
Then, OC = OA = r cm.
B cm
16 cm

In PQR, using pythagoras theorem, O

C
PR2 = PQ2 + QR2 r cm
= 162 + 122 = 256 + 144 = 400
Q A12 cm R
 PR = 20 cm.
Since OC is the radius and PQ is the tangent at C, we have OCQ = 90°. Similarly, OAQ = 90°.
Also, AQC = 90° [ given]
Hence, the remaining angle AOC of quadrilateral AQCO is also 90°.
Again, QA = QC [ lengths of the tangents from the external point to a circle are equal]
 The quadrilateral AQCO is a square.
 QC = QA = r cm
Hence, PC = (16 – r) cm and RA = (12 – r) cm.
Now, PB = PC ( same as above)
Similarly, RB = RA = (12 – r) cm
 PB + RB = (16 – r + 12 – r) cm = (28 – 2r) cm
 PR = (28 – 2r) cm
 20 cm = (28 – 2r) cm
 2r = 28 – 20 = 8
 r=4
Hence, the required length of the radius of the circle is 4 cm. Ans.
172 CIRCLES MATHEMATICS–X
 OR P
Proceeded as above, PR = 20 cm.
Join O to P, O to Q and O to R.
Clearly, OA = OB = OC = r cm.
1
Now, ar (PQR)  12 16 cm 2

20
16 cm
2

cm
= 96 cm2
also, ar (PQR) = ar (OPQ) + ar (OPR) + ar (OQR) r cm
O cm
C r
1 1 1
 96   r  16   r  20   r  12 r cm
2 2 2
Q R
1 A
96   r  (16  20  12) 12 cm

2
1
 96   r  48
2
96
 r 4
24
Hence, the required length of the radius of the circle is 4 cm. Ans.
Example 5. The radius of the incircle of a triangle is 4 cm and the segments into which one side is divided by
the point of contact are 6 cm and 8 cm. Determine the other two sides of the triangle. [NCERT]
Solution. Since lengths of tangent from an external point to the circle are equal.
 BP = BR = 8 cm
CP = CQ = 6 cm A
and, AR = AQ = x cm (say)
x x
Also, IP = IQ = IR = 4 cm
Now, 2s = a + b + c R 4 cm m
Q
4c
 2s = 8 + 6 + 6 + x + x + 8
8 cm I 6 cm
 2s = 28 + 2x 4 cm

 s = 14 + x B C
8 cm P 6 cm
 s – a = 14 + x – 14 = x, s – b = 14 + x – 6 – x = 8 and
s – c = 14 + x – 8 – x = 6.
Clearly, ar (ABC) = ar (IBC) + ar (ICA) + ar (IAB)
1 1 1
 s( s  a)( s  b)( s  c)   14  4   4  (6  x )   4  (8  x)
2 2 2
 (14  x )( x)(8)(6)  56  4 x
 4 (14  x).3 x  4(14  x )
 (14  x).3x  14  x

MATHEMATICS–X CIRCLES 173

 Squaring both sides, we get
3x (14 + x) = (14 + x)2
 3x = 14 + x [ 14 + x  0]
 2x = 14  x = 7
 AB = (8 + 7) cm = 15 cm and AC = (6 + 7) cm = 13 cm. Ans.

PRACTICE EXERCISE

1. A point P is 13 cm from the centre of the circle. The length of the tangent drawn from P to the circle is 12
cm. Find the radius of the circle.
2. A point P is 29 cm from the centre of the circle. Find the length of the tangent drawn from P to the circle
if the radius of the circle is 20 cm.
3. The incircle of ABC touches the sides BC, CA and AB at D, E and F respectively. Show that
1
AF + BD + CE = AE + BF + CD  (Perimeter of ABC)
2
4. A circle touches all the four sides of a quadrilateral ABCD. Prove that AB + CD = BC + DA.
5. If all the side of a parallelogram touch a circle, show that the parallelogram is a rhombus.
[CBSE 2000 C, 2002]
6. ABCD is a quadrilateral such that A = 90°. A circle with center O, touches the sides AB, BC, CD and DA
at E, F, G, H respectively. If CD = 30 cm, AD = 15 cm and CF = 20 cm, find the radius of the circle.
7. A circle is inscribed in a ABC having sides 8 cm, 10 cm and 12 cm as shown. Find the length of AD, BE
and CF. [CBSE 2001]
C
12
m
8c

cm

F E

D
A 10 cm B
8. ABC is a right angle triangle, right angled at A, AB = 6 cm and AC = 8 cm. A circle with centre O is
inscribed inside the triangle. Calculate the value of ‘r’, the radius of the inscribed circle. [CBSE 2002]
9. Prove that the intercept of a tangent between two parallel tangents to a circle subtends a right angle at
the centre.
10. Circles are drawn from the three vertices of a ABC (as shown); taken as centre to touch each other
externally. If the sides of the triangle are 4 cm, 6 cm and 8 cm, find the radii of the circles.
A

B C

11. In two concentric circles, prove that a chord of larger circle which is tangent to smaller is bisected at the
point of contact.

174 CIRCLES MATHEMATICS–X

12. Prove that the perpendicular at the point of contact to the tangent to a circle passes through the centre.
13. Prove that the tangents drawn at the ends of a chord of a circle make equal angles with the chord.
14. Prove that the angle between the two tangents drawn from an external point to a circle is supplementary
to the angle subtended by the line-segment joining the points of contact at the centre.
15. In the given figure, XP and XQ are two tangents to a circle with O from a point X outside the circle. ARB
is tangent to circle at R. Prove that XA + AR = XB + BR [CBSE 2003]

A R
B
P Q
O

16. From an external point A, two tangent segments AP and AQ are drawn to a circle with centre O. Show that
O is the perpendicular bisector of PQ.
17. In the given figure, the four sides AB, BC, CD and DA of a quadrilateral ABCD touches a circle at the
points P, Q, R and S respectively. If AB = 6 cm, BC = 7 cm and CD = 4 cm, find AD. [CBSE 2002]

C
m
4c
R
D
Q
7 cm

A B
P
6 cm
18. If AB, AC, PQ are tangent in the given figure, and AB = 5 cm, find the perimeter of APQ. [CBSE 2000]

P X
Q
B C

19. P and Q are centres of circles of radii 9 cm and 2 cm respectively. PQ = 17 cm. R is the centre of a circle of
radius x cm which touches the above circles externally. Given that PRQ = 90°, write an equation in x and
solve it. [CBSE 2004]

MATHEMATICS–X CIRCLES 175

20. PQ is a chord of length 8 cm of a circle of radius 5 cm. The tangents at P and Q intersect at a point T.
(see figure). Find the length of TP. [NCERT]

5c
m
8 cm
T
O

21. Two tangent segment BC, BD are drawn to a circle with centre O such that DBC = 120°. Prove that
BO = 2.BC.
22. In the given figure, two circles with centres X and Y touch externally at P. If tangents AT and BT meet the
common tangent at T, then prove that AT = BT.
T

A
B
X P Y

23. If PA and PB are two tangents drawn from a point P to a circle with centre O touching it at A and B, prove
that OP is the perpendicular bisector of AB.
24. In the given figure, two circles touch each other externally at C. Prove that the common tangent at C
bisects the other two common tangents. [CBSE 2007]

R
E S

A C B

Q
F
P

25. The radii of two concentric circles are 13 cm and 8 cm. AB is a diameter of a bigger circle. BD is a tangent
to the smaller circle, touching it at D. Find the length AD.

B D

176 CIRCLES MATHEMATICS–X

 HINTS TO SELECTED QUESTIONS
5. Here, AP = AS ...(1)
BP = BQ ...(2)
D R C
CR = CQ ...(3)
DR = DS ...(4)
adding (1), (2), (3) and (4); we get S
O Q
 (AP + BP) + (CR + DR) = (AS + DS) + (BQ + CQ)
 AB + CD = AD + BC
A B
 2AB = 2BC [ ABCD is a ||gm  AB = CD and BC = AD] P
 AB = BC
Thus, AB = BC = CD = AD  ABCD is a rhombus.
6. Clearly, OHA = OEA = 90° and OH = OE
C
 AEOH is a square. cm
36
G
Now, CF = 20 cm  CG = 20 cm D 20 cm
Also, DG = DC – CG = 30 cm – 20 cm = 10 cm.
H O F
Also, DG = DH  DH = 10 cm. 15 cm
Now, AH = AD – DH = 15 cm – 10 cm = 5 cm.
 radius of the circle = AH = OE = 5 cm. A B
E
7. Clearly, x + y = 12 ...(1)
C
y+z=8 ...(2)
z z
and, z + x = 10 ...(3)
adding (1), (2) and (3), we get F E
2 (x + y + z) = 30  x + y + z = 15 ...(4) x y
subtracting (1), (2) and (3) respectively from (4), we get
A y B
z = 3, x = 7 and y = 5 x D
 AD = 7 cm, BE = 5 cm and CF = 3 cm
15. Since lengths of tangents from an exterior point to a circle are equal.
 XP = XQ, AP = AR and BQ = BR ...(1)
Now, XP = XQ  XA + AP = XB + BQ
 XA + AR = XB + BR [ using (1)]
19. In PRQ, using pythagoras theorem,
PQ2 = PR2 + PQ2 R
x cm x cm
 172 = (x + 9)2 + (x + 2)2
 x2 + 11x – 102 = 0 2 cm
Q
 x2 – 6x + 17x – 102 = 0 P 9 cm
17 cm
 x (x – 6) + 17 (x – 6) = 0

MATHEMATICS–X CIRCLES 177

  x = 6 or x = – 17
 x = 6 cm [ x cannot be negative]
20. Join OP and OT.
Clearly, PR = RQ = 4 cm

also, OR  OP 2  PR 2  52  4 2 cm  3 cm

5c
m
T O
R

Let TP = x cm and TR = y cm.

In TRP, x2 – y2 = 16 ...(1)

In OPT, x2 + 52 = (y + 3)2 [ OT2 = (OR + RT)2]

 x2 – y2 = 6y – 16 ...(2)

from (1) and (2), we get

16
6 y  16  16  y 
3
16 20
Putting y  in (1), we get x 
3 3

Hence, length TP = x cm  20 cm
3
21. Join OB, OC and OD.
OBC = OBD = 60° and OCB = 90° C

 BOC = 30°
B O
BC 1
  sin 30   OB  2BC.
OB 2 D
24. We know that the lengths of tangents drawn from an external point to a circle are equal.
 EC = ER ...(1)
and EC = ES ...(2)
from (1) and (2), we get
ER = ES
 Common tangent at C bisects the other common tangent.
Similarly, it can be proved that PF = FQ.
178 CIRCLES MATHEMATICS–X
 25. Join OD and AE.
Clearly, ODB = AEB = 90°; but these are corresponding angles.
 OD || AE.
Now, In BEA, AE = 2OD = 2 × 8 cm = 16 cm
In ODB, BD2 = (13)2 – (8)2 = 105 A
O
 BD  105 cm  DE  105 cm
Now, In AED, AD2 = AE2 + ED2 B E
D
2
= (16)2 + ( 105)  361
 AD = 19 cm.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Mark the correct alternative in each of the following :

1. The length of a tangent from a point 25 cm from the centre of a circle is 24 cm. The radius of the circle is:
(a) 5 cm (b) 7 cm (c) 10 cm (d) 12 cm
2. A tangent PQ at a point P of a circle of radius 8 cm meets a line through the centre O at a point Q such that
OQ = 15 cm. Length PQ is :
(a) 17 cm (b) 10 cm (c) 125 cm (d) none of these
3. A circle touches all the four sides of a quadrilateral ABCD. Then,
(a) AB + CD = AC + BC (b) AB + CD = BC + AD
(c) AC + AD = BD + CD (d) AC + BD = BC + DB
4. Two circles of radii 10 cm and 8 cm are concentric. The length of a chord of the larger circle which touches
the smaller is :
(a) 6 cm (b) 11 cm (c) 12 cm (d) 13 cm
5. A circle with centre O is inscribed in a right angle triangle ABC, right angled at B. If BC = 15 cm, AC = 17
cm, the radius ‘r’ of the circle is :
(a) 2 cm (b) 2.5 cm (c) 3 cm (d) 5 cm
6. PQ is a chord of length 8 cm of a circle of radius 5 cm. The tangents at P and Q intersect at a point P. The
length of TP is :
2 2
(a) 5 cm (b) 5 cm (c) 6 cm (d) 6 cm
3 3
7. If TP and TQ are tangents to a circle with centre O such that POQ = 110°, then PTQ is equal to :
(a) 60° (b) 70° (c) 80° (d) 90°
8. Two circles touch each other externally at C and AB is a common tangent to the circles. Then, ACB is:
(a) 60° (b) 45° (c) 30° (d) 90°
9. A circle touches all the four sides of a quadrilateral ABCD, with AB = 7 cm, BC = 8 cm and CD = 5 cm. The
length of AD is :
(a) 3 cm (b) 4 cm (c) 5 cm (d) 6 cm
10. PQ is a tangent drawn from a point P to a circle with centre O and QOR is a diameter of the circle such that
POR = 120°, then OPQ is :
(a) 45° (b) 60° (c) 90° (d) 30°
MATHEMATICS–X CIRCLES 179
 VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (1 MARK QUESTIONS)
1. The length of a tangent PQ, from the external point P, is 24 cm. If the distance of the point P, from the
centre, is 25 cm. What is the radius of the circle?
2. In figure, PT is tangent to circle. What is the value of x?

x
35° P
O

3. In figure, PT and PS are tangents to given circle. What is the value of x?

130° x P
O

4. In figure, What is the perimeter of ABC.

A
3 cm
R Q

2 cm

B C
P 6 cm

5. In figure, find QOR.

O 30° P

6. In figure, if XY = 25 cm, find the perimeter of XAB.

Y
A

O C X

B
Z

180 CIRCLES MATHEMATICS–X

 7. If figure, find the length of PB.

A
12 cm
5 cm

O P
3 cm
B

8. What is the distance between two parallel tangents to a circle whose radius is 4 cm.

9. In figure, PQ and PR are tangents from P to a circle with centre O. What is QPR.

O 50° P

10. What is the minimum and maximum number of common tangents do two circles have?

PRACTICE TEST

M.M : 15 Time : 45 minutes

General Instructions :
Each questions carries 3 marks.
1. Find the length of the tangent drawn from a point whose distance from the centre is 25 cm when the
radius of the circle is 24 cm.
2. ABCD is a quadrilateral such that A = 90°. A circle with centre O, touches the sides AB, BC, CD and DA
at E, F, G, H respectively. If CD = 35 cm, AD = 20 cm and CF = 25 cm. Find the radius of the circle.
3. ABC is an isosceles triangle with AB = AC. If the incircle of ABC touches the sides AB, BC and AC
at D, E, and F respectively, show that E bisects BC.
4. If all the sides of a parallelogram touch a circle, prove that the parallelogram is a rhombus.
5. Two tangents TP and TQ are drawn to a circle with centre O from an external ponit T. Prove that
PTQ = 2.OPQ.

MATHEMATICS–X CIRCLES 181

 ANSWERS OF PRACTICE EXERCISE

1. 5 cm 2. 21 cm 6. 5 cm 7. AD = 3 cm, BE = 7 cm and CF= 5 cm

8. r = 2 cm 10. 3 cm, 5 cm and 1 cm 17. 3 cm

20
18. 10 cm 19. x2 + 11x – 102 = 0; x = 6 20. TP = cm 25. 19 cm
3

ANSWERS OF MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (c)

6. (d) 7. (b) 8. (d) 9. (b) 10. (d)

ANSWERS OF VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. 7 cm 2. 55° 3. 50° 4. 22 cm 5. 120°

6. 50 cm 7. 4 10 cm 8. 8 cm 9. 80° 10. 0 and 4.

ANSWERS OF PRACTICE TEST

1. 7 cm 2. 10 cm

182 CIRCLES MATHEMATICS–X