A tangent is a line that aligns with something at one point. Therefore, a tangent of a circle is a line that aligns with the circle at one point.
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What is the tangent of a circle?
The tangent of a circle is a line that touches the circumference of the circle at one point. A tangent differs from a secant, because a secant aligns with two points of the circle. A tangent is expressed as a linear equation.
How do you find the equation of the tangent of a circle?
First you find the gradient of the radius using the centre of the circle and the point of interception. The gradient of the radius acts like a normal line perpendicular to the tangent. Then, to find the gradient of the tangent, you do the negative reciprocal of the gradient of the radius. Finally, substitute the point of intersection and the tangent gradient into one of the linear equation formulas to get the equation of the tangent to the circle.
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