Tangent Lines
Pacing:This lesson should take one to two class periods
Goal: The purpose of this lesson is to connect the radius of a circle to its tangent. The real life applications of
tangents are found in the additional examples below.
Connection!Tangents are used in Calculus; the slope of the tangent line represents the derivative. Students should
make this connection visually once Calculus begins.
Additional Examples:
a. Find the perimeter ofABCD. 50 cmCommon Tangent and Tangent Circles
Pacing:This lesson should take one class period
Goal:This lesson focuses on the properties shared with circles sharing common tangents.
Additional Example:
a. A dirt bike chain fits snugly around two gears, forming a diagram like the one below. Find the distance between
the centers of the gears. Assume the distance fromBto the top of the second circle is 30. 25 [U+0080][U+009D]. 30. 254 [U+0080][U+009D]Chapter 1. Geometry TE - Teaching Tips