NCERT Solutions
Class 10 Maths
Constructions

Ex.11.2 Q.3
Draw a circle of radius 3 cm.
Take two points P and Q on one of its extended diameters each at a distance of 7 cm from its centre.
Draw tangents to the circle from these two points P and Q. Give the justification of the construction.
The tangent can be constructed on the given circle as follows:
Step 1. Taking any point O on the given plane as centre, draw a circle of 3 cm radius.
Step 2. Take one of its diameters, PQ, and extend it on both sides.
Locate two points on this diameter such that OR = OS = 7 cm.
Step 3. Bisect OR and OS. Let T and U be the mid-points of OR and OS respectively.
Step 4. Taking T and U as its centre and with TO and UO as radius, draw two circles.
These two circles will intersect the circle at point V, W, X, Y respectively.
Join RV, RW, SX, and SY. These are the required tangents.
Justification:
The construction can be justified by proving that RV, RW, SY, and SX are the tangents to the circle (whose centre is O and radius is 3 cm).
For this, join OV, OW, OX, and OY.
∠RVO is an angle in the semi-circle. We know that angle in a semi-circle is a right angle.
So, ∠RVO = 900
=> OV ⊥ RV
Since OV is the radius of the circle, RV has to be a tangent of the circle.
Similarly, OW, OX, and OY are the tangents of the circle.