Question

Based on your work in Question 1 through 3, what is the relationship between the radius, AB , and the tangent line, BC ? What can you conclude about any tangent line to a circle and the radius of the circle? Explain.

Answer 1

Without further context I can't say much other than the radius is perpendicular to the tangent. In other words, the radius and tangent line form a 90 degree angle. This is one particular radius and its not just any radius. The radius in question must have the point of tangency as its endpoint.

Answer 2

The radius, AB is perpendicular to the tangent line, BC so their slopes are negative reciprocals of one another. Because I generated a circle at random for this activity, this conclusion likely applies to any tangent line to a circle. In other words, the tangent line to any circle is perpendicular to the radius at their point of intersection.