Question 15 Marks
Prove that the perpendicular at the point of contact of the tangent to a circle passes through the centre.
Answer
Let AB be the tangent to the circle at point P with centre O.
To prove: PQ passes through the point O.
Construction: Join OP.
Through O, draw a straight line CD parallel to the tangent AB.
Proof: Suppose that PQ doesn't passes through point O. PQ intersect CD at R and also intersect AB at P.
AS, CD || AB, PQ is the line of intersection,
$\angle\text{ORP} = \angle\text{RPA} $ (Alternate interior angles)
But also,
$\angle\text{RPA}=90^\circ(\text{OP}\perp\text{AB})$
$\Rightarrow\angle\text{ORP}=90^\circ$
$\angle\text{ROP}+\angle\text{OPA}=180^\circ$ (Co interior angles)
$\Rightarrow\angle\text{ROP}+90^\circ=180^\circ$
$\Rightarrow\angle\text{ROP}=90^\circ$
Thus, the $ \triangle\text{ORP}$ has 2 right angles i.e. $ \angle\text{ORP} $ and $ \angle\text{ROP} $ which is not possible.
Hence, our supposition is wrong.
$\therefore$ PQ passes through the point O.
View full question & answer→
Let AB be the tangent to the circle at point P with centre O.
To prove: PQ passes through the point O.
Construction: Join OP.
Through O, draw a straight line CD parallel to the tangent AB.
Proof: Suppose that PQ doesn't passes through point O. PQ intersect CD at R and also intersect AB at P.
AS, CD || AB, PQ is the line of intersection,
$\angle\text{ORP} = \angle\text{RPA} $ (Alternate interior angles)
But also,
$\angle\text{RPA}=90^\circ(\text{OP}\perp\text{AB})$
$\Rightarrow\angle\text{ORP}=90^\circ$
$\angle\text{ROP}+\angle\text{OPA}=180^\circ$ (Co interior angles)
$\Rightarrow\angle\text{ROP}+90^\circ=180^\circ$
$\Rightarrow\angle\text{ROP}=90^\circ$
Thus, the $ \triangle\text{ORP}$ has 2 right angles i.e. $ \angle\text{ORP} $ and $ \angle\text{ROP} $ which is not possible.
Hence, our supposition is wrong.
$\therefore$ PQ passes through the point O.


We know that the radius and tangent are perperpendular at their point of contact $\therefore\angle\text{OTP}=\angle\text{OQP}=90^\circ$ Now, In quadrilateral OQPT $\angle\text{QOT}+\angle\text{OTP}+\angle\text{OQP}+\angle\text{TPQ}=360^\circ$[Angle sum property of a quadrilateral] $\Rightarrow \angle\text{QOT}+90^\circ+90^\circ+70^\circ=360^\circ$ $\Rightarrow 250^\circ+\angle\text{QOT}=360^\circ$ $\Rightarrow \angle\text{QOT}=110^\circ$ We know that the angle subtended by an arc at the centre is double the angle subtended by the arc at any point on the remaining part of the circle. $\therefore\text{TRQ}=\frac{1}{2}(\angle\text{QOT})=55^\circ$















