NCERT Solutions
Class 10 Maths
Constructions

Ex.11.2 Q.1
Draw a circle of radius 6 cm. From a point 10 cm away from its centre,
construct the pair of tangents to the circle and measure their lengths.
Give the justification of the construction.
A pair of tangents to the given circle can be constructed as follows:
Step 1. Taking any point O of the given plane as centre, draw a circle of 6 cm radius. Locate a
point P, 10 cm away from O. Join OP.
Step 2. Bisect OP. Let M be the mid-point of PO.
Step 3. Taking M as centre and MO as radius, draw a circle.
Step 4. Let this circle intersect the previous circle at point Q and R.
Step 5. Join PQ and PR. PQ and PR are the required tangents.
The lengths of tangents PQ and PR are 8 cm each.
Justification:
The construction can be justified by proving that PQ and PR are the tangents to the circle (whose centre is O and radius is 6 cm).
For this, join OQ and OR.
∠PQO is an angle in the semi-circle. We know that angle in a semi-circle is a right angle.
So, ∠PQO = 900
=> OQ ⊥ PQ
Since OQ is the radius of the circle, PQ has to be a tangent of the circle.
Similarly, PR is a tangent of the circle.