Common Tangents in Coordinate Geometry

A line touching the circle at a point can be called a tangent to a circle. At the tangency point, the radius is always perpendicular to the tangent of a circle.

The following are the properties of tangents:

• A tangent will never cross the circle but touches it.
• An angle is formed by the chord and tangent, which is the same as the angle that is being inscribed on the opposite side of the chord.
• The tangents of a circle are equal if it is emerging from the same external point.

What Are Common Tangents in Coordinate Geometry?

A line which is tangent to more than one circle is called a common tangent. The tangents can be classified into common tangents that are internal and external. An internal tangent is a line segment, which passes through the centre of the two circles, whereas the external common tangents do not.

Direct Common Tangents

It is the tangents dividing externally in the ratio of the radii and meeting on the line of centres.

Transverse Common Tangents

It is the tangents dividing internally in the ratio of the radii and meeting on the line of centres.

Common Tangents in Coordinate Geometry Condition and Formulae

1. Number of Tangents Condition

• 4 common tangents r₁ + r₂ < c₁c₂
• 3 common tangents r₁ + r₂ = c₁c₂
• 2 common tangents |r₁ – r₂| < c₁c₂ < r₁ + r₂
• 1 common tangent |r₁ – r₂| = c₁c₂
• no common tangents c₁c₂ < |r₁ – r₂|

The formula for the tangents of the two circles with respective centres and radii.

(i) Internally: If |C₁ C₂| = |r₂ – r₁| and the point of contact is ((r₁ x₂ – r₂ x₁)/(r₁ + r₂) , (r₁y₂ – r₂y₁)/(r₁ + r₂)).

(ii) Externally: If |C₁ C₂| = |r₂ – r₁| and the point of contact is ((r₁ x₂ + r₂ x₁)/(r₁ + r₂) , (r₁y₂ + r₂y₁)/(r₁ + r₂)).

Also, Read:

3D Geometry

Tangents and Normals

Solved Problems on Common Tangents

Example 1: What is the angle between the two tangents from the origin to the circle (x − 7)² + (y + 1)² = 25?

Solution:

Any line through (0, 0) be y − mx = 0, and it is a tangent to circle (x − 7)² + (y + 1)² = 25, if [−1 − 7m] / √[1 + m²] = 5

⇒ m = 3 / 4, −4 / 3

Therefore, the product of both slopes is -1

i.e., [3 / 4]* [−4 / 3] = −1

Hence, the angle between the two tangents is π/2.

Example 2: A pair of tangents are drawn from the origin to the circle x² + y² + 20 (x + y) + 20 = 0. Find the equation of the pair of tangents.

Solution:

The equation of pair of tangents is given by SS₁ = T².

Here, S = x² + y² + 20 (x + y) + 20, S₁ = 20

T = 10 (x + y) + 20

∴ SS₁ = T²

⇒20 {x² + y² + 20 (x + y) + 20} = 10² (x + y+ 2)²

⇒4x² + 4y² + 10xy = 0

⇒2x² + 2y² + 5xy = 0

Example 3: What are the equations of the tangents to the circle x² + y² −6x + 4y = 12, which are parallel to the straight line 4x + 3y + 5 = 0?

Solution:

Let equation of tangent be 4x + 3y + 5 = 0, then √[9 + 4 + 12] =∣[4(3) + 3(−2) + k] / √[16+9]∣

⇒ 6 + k = ±25

⇒ k = 19 and −31

Hence, the tangents are 4x + 3y + 19 = 0 and 4x + 3y −31 = 0.

Example 4: Calculate the area of the triangle formed by the tangents from the points (h, k) to the circle x² + y² = a² and the line joining their points of contact.

Solution:

Equation of chord of contact AB is xh + yk = a² …..(i)

OM = Length of the perpendicular from O (0, 0) on line (i) = a² / √[h² + k²]

∴ AB = 2AM = 2 √OA² − OM²

= 2a √[h² + k²−a²] / √[h² + k²]

Also, PM = Length of perpendicular from P(h, k) to the line (i) is [h² + k²−a²] / √[h² + k²]. Therefore, the required area of triangle PAB = [1 / 2] * AB * PM = [a (h² + k²−a²)^3/2] / [h² + k²].

Example 5: Find the number of common tangents to the circles x² + y² − 4x − 6y − 12 = 0 and x² + y² + 6x + 18y + 26 = 0.

Solution:

Centres of circles are C₁ (2, 3) and C₂ (−3, −9), and their radii are r₁ = 5 and r₂ = 8. Obviously, r₁ + r₂ = C₁C_2, i.e., circles touch each other externally.

Hence, there are three common tangents.

Example 6: What is the gradient of the tangent line at the point (acosα, asinα) to the circle x² + y² = a²?

Solution:

The equation of a tangent at (a cos α, a sin α) to the circle x² + y² = a² is a x cos α + a y sin α = a².

Hence, its gradient is [−a cos α] / [a sin α] = − cot α.

Example 7: Find the number of common tangents to the circles x² + y² + 2x + 8y – 23 = 0 and x² + y² – 4x – 10y – 19 = 0 is

Solution: 

Let

x² + y² + 2x + 8y – 23 = 0….(1)

And x² + y² – 4x – 10y – 19 = 0 …..(2)

The centre of the circle is given by C (-g, -f).

The centre of the circle (1) is (-1, -4), and of the circle (2) is (2, 5).

The radius of the circle is given by

The above two conditions are obtained.

There exist 3 scenarios.

• Two circles intersect each other.
• Two circles just touch the outer surface of each other.
• Two circles don’t touch each other.

This problem is two circles do not touch each other. Hence, the number of tangents is 2.

Example 8: If a > 2b > 0, then the positive value of m for which

Solution:

Any tangent to x² + y² = b² is

Example 9: The equation of tangent to the curve y = 2 cos x at x = π/4 is

Solution: 

At x = π/4,

Example 10: The equation of the tangent to the curve (1 + x²)y = 2 – x, where it crosses the x-axis, is  

Solution:

(1 + x²)y = 2 – x ……(i)

It meets x-axis, where y = 0 i.e., 0 = 2 – x ⇒ x = 2.

So, (i) meets the x-axis at the point (2, 0).            

Also, from (i),

The slope of the tangent at (2, 0) is,

Equation of tangent at (2, 0) is