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Which equation describes the relationship between the tangent and the secant line segments?

Which equation describes the relationship between the tangent and the secant line-example-1
User John Tseng
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1 Answer

1 vote

Answer:

B. (PQ)² = (PR)(PS)

Explanation:

You want the relationship between tangent PQ and the segments of secant PS.

Secant relation

The product of the secant lengths between the point P where it meets the tangent and the two point R and S where it intersects the circle is equal to the square of the tangent from point P.

The relationship is ...

(PQ)² = (PR)(PS)

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Additional comment

You can eliminate choices C and D because they do not involve segments of PS.

If M is the midpoint of RS, choice A says PQ=PM. Actually PQ < PM, which is clear when RS is a diameter of the circle. This leaves only choice B.

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User Saad Ahmed
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