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Explain what the difference between a tangent and a secant segment is?

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5 votes

Final answer:

A tangent is a line or line that touches a circle at exactly one point and does not pass through the circle, whereas a secant is a line or line segment that intersects a circle at two points and passes through the circle.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Geometry, tangent and secant are terms used to describe lines or line segments in relation to circles. A tangent is a line or line segment that touches the circle at exactly one point, known as the point of tangency. It should be noted that this line does not pass through the circle.

On the other hand, a secant is a line or line segment that intersects a circle at two points. This means that unlike a tangent, a secant passes through the circle. Both of these concepts are fundamental in understanding the relationships between lines and circles in Geometry.

Learn more about Tangent and Secant

User Kandinski
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3 votes

Answer:

A Tangent of a circle is found outside of the circle but touching 2 points of the circle on the outside. But a Secant is found inside the circle and it touches 2 points in the circle. A Chord can always be Secant, but a secant can not always be a chord because it may pass through the circle.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Lochi
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