Two tangents PA and PB are drawn to a circle with center O from an external point P. Prove that ∠APB=2∠OAB.
Answer:
- Given:
PA and PB are the tangents to the circle with center O. - Here, we have to find the value of ∠APB.
Let us consider ∠APB=x∘.
We know that the tangents to a circle from an external point are equal.
So, PA=PB. - As △APB is an isosceles triangle(PA=PB), the base angles of the triangle will be equal. ⟹∠PBA=∠PAB
- We know that the sum of the angles of a triangle is 180∘. Thus, ∠APB+∠PAB+∠PBA=180∘⟹x∘+2∠PAB=180∘[As, ∠PBA=∠PAB]⟹∠PAB=12(180∘−x∘)=(90∘−12x∘)
- PA is a tangent and OA is the radius of the circle with center O.
We know that the tangent at any point of a circle is perpendicular to the radius through the point of contact.
⟹∠OAP=90∘⟹∠OAB+∠PAB=90∘⟹∠OAB=90∘−(90∘−12x∘)⟹∠OAB=12x∘=12∠APB⟹∠APB=2∠OAB - Hence, ∠APB=2∠OAB.