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Q1:
How many tangents can a circle have?

Solution :

Given: A circle in a two-dimensional Euclidean plane.

To Find: The total number of tangents that can be drawn to a circle.

O Tangent 1 Tangent 2

Step 1: Defining a Tangent
A tangent to a circle is defined as a line that intersects the circle at exactly one point. This point is known as the point of contact. [Definition: A tangent is a line that touches the circle at a single point and does not enter the interior of the circle.]

Step 2: Analyzing the Circumference
A circle is defined as the locus of all points in a plane that are at a fixed distance (the radius) from a fixed point (the center). The circumference of a circle consists of an infinite number of distinct points.

Step 3: Establishing the Correspondence
Since every point on the circumference of the circle can serve as a point of contact for a unique tangent line, we must determine the number of points on the circumference. [Axiom: A circle is composed of an infinite set of points.]

Step 4: Logical Deduction
1. Let $P$ be any arbitrary point on the circumference of the circle.
2. Through point $P$, exactly one tangent line can be drawn such that it is perpendicular to the radius at that point. [Theorem: The tangent at any point of a circle is perpendicular to the radius through the point of contact.]
3. Because there are infinitely many points $P_1, P_2, P_3, \dots, P_n$ on the circumference of the circle, there exist infinitely many corresponding tangent lines.

Conclusion:
As the number of points on the circumference is infinite, the number of tangents that can be drawn to a circle is also infinite.

Final Answer: A circle can have infinitely many tangents.



CBSE Solutions for Class 10 Mathematics Circles


Chapters in CBSE - Class 10 Mathematics


Other Subjects in CBSE - Class 10

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