The angle between a tangent line and the radius drawn to the point of tangency is

Prepare for the Geometry CBE Exam with targeted resources. Access interactive quizzes and detailed explanations to master geometric concepts effectively and excel in your test!

Multiple Choice

The angle between a tangent line and the radius drawn to the point of tangency is

Explanation:
When a line is tangent to a circle, it just touches the circle at one point, and the line from the center to that point (the radius) meets the tangent line at a right angle. This perpendicular relationship is what defines tangency. So the angle between the tangent line and the radius to the point of tangency is 90 degrees. If the angle were anything else, the line would either intersect the circle in another point or not touch at all, which contradicts tangency. The other options would imply the line isn’t perpendicular to the radius.

When a line is tangent to a circle, it just touches the circle at one point, and the line from the center to that point (the radius) meets the tangent line at a right angle. This perpendicular relationship is what defines tangency. So the angle between the tangent line and the radius to the point of tangency is 90 degrees. If the angle were anything else, the line would either intersect the circle in another point or not touch at all, which contradicts tangency. The other options would imply the line isn’t perpendicular to the radius.