Understanding Tangents Through Activities

Discover how tangents are special cases of secants through interactive demonstrations and activities

Current Activity: Welcome
Wire Angle: 0°
Line Type: Secant
Intersection Points: 2
Chord Length: --
Welcome to understanding tangents through activities! Choose an activity to begin your exploration.

Key Mathematical Insight

"The tangent to a circle is a special case of the secant, when the two end points of its corresponding chord coincide."

Point of Contact
The single point where a tangent line touches the circle
Tangent "Touches"
Unlike secants that "cut through," tangents gently "touch" at exactly one point
Limiting Position
The tangent is the limiting position of a secant as the two intersection points merge