10.

6 Segment Relationships in Circles

Essential Question What relationships exist among the
segments formed by two intersecting chords or among segments of two
secants that intersect outside a circle?

Segments Formed by Two Intersecting Chords

Work with a partner. Use dynamic geometry software.
a. Construct two chords BC — and DE — Sample
that intersect in the interior of a
circle at a point F.
B E
b. Find the segment lengths BF, CF,
DF, and EF and complete the table. F
What do you observe?
REASONING
ABSTRACTLY BF CF ⋅
BF CF A
C

To be proficient in math, D
you need to make sense
of quantities and their
DF EF ⋅
DF EF

relationships in problem
situations.
c. Repeat parts (a) and (b) several times. Write a conjecture about your results.

Secants Intersecting Outside a Circle

Work with a partner. Use dynamic geometry software.
a. Construct two secants ⃖⃗ ⃖⃗
BC and BD Sample
that intersect at a point B outside
a circle, as shown.
b. Find the segment lengths BE, BC, C
BF, and BD, and complete the table. E
What do you observe? B
A
BE BC ⋅
BE BC F

D
BF BD ⋅
BF BD

c. Repeat parts (a) and (b) several times. Write a conjecture about your results.

Communicate Your Answer

D 3. What relationships exist among the segments formed by two intersecting chords
9 or among segments of two secants that intersect outside a circle?
18 A 4. Find the segment length AF in the figure at the left.
E F
8

Section 10.6 Segment Relationships in Circles 569

hs_geo_pe_1006.indd 569 1/19/15 2:38 PM

 10.6 Lesson What You Will Learn
Use segments of chords, tangents, and secants.

Core Vocabul
Vocabulary
larry Using Segments of Chords, Tangents, and Secants
segments of a chord, p. 570 When two chords intersect in the interior of a circle, each chord is divided into two
tangent segment, p. 571 segments that are called segments of the chord.
secant segment, p. 571
external segment, p. 571

Theorem
Theorem 10.18 Segments of Chords Theorem
If two chords intersect in the interior of a circle, then C
the product of the lengths of the segments of one chord
is equal to the product of the lengths of the segments of A E
the other chord. B
D
Proof Ex. 19, p. 574 EA ∙ EB = EC ∙ ED

Using Segments of Chords

Find ML and JK. M

x+2
N J
K x x+4
x+1
L
SOLUTION
⋅
NK NJ = NL NM ⋅ Segments of Chords Theorem

⋅ ⋅
x (x + 4) = (x + 1) (x + 2) Substitute.
x2 + 4x = x2 + 3x + 2 Simplify.
4x = 3x + 2 Subtract x2 from each side.
x=2 Subtract 3x from each side.
Find ML and JK by substitution.
ML = (x + 2) + (x + 1) JK = x + (x + 4)
=2+2+2+1 =2+2+4
=7 =8

So, ML = 7 and JK = 8.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

Find the value of x.

1. 2.
x 6 4
2 x+1
4 3 3

570 Chapter 10 Circles

hs_geo_pe_1006.indd 570 1/19/15 2:38 PM

 Core Concept
Tangent Segment and Secant Segment R
A tangent segment is a segment that external segment Q
is tangent to a circle at an endpoint. secant segment
P
A secant segment is a segment that
contains a chord of a circle and has
tangent segment
exactly one endpoint outside the S
circle. The part of a secant segment PS is a tangent segment.
that is outside the circle is called an PR is a secant segment.
external segment. PQ is the external segment of PR.

Theorem
Theorem 10.19 Segments of Secants Theorem
If two secant segments share the same endpoint B
outside a circle, then the product of the lengths of A
one secant segment and its external segment equals the
E
product of the lengths of the other secant segment and
its external segment. C
D
Proof Ex. 20, p. 574 EA ∙ EB = EC ∙ ED

Using Segments of Secants

Find the value of x. Q

11
P
9
R x
10 S
T
SOLUTION
⋅
RP RQ = RS RT ⋅ Segments of Secants Theorem
9 ⋅ (11 + 9) = 10 ⋅ (x + 10) Substitute.
180 = 10x + 100 Simplify.
80 = 10x Subtract 100 from each side.
8=x Divide each side by 10.

The value of x is 8.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

Find the value of x.

3. 4. 3 x+2
9
6
x x+1 x−1
5

Section 10.6 Segment Relationships in Circles 571

hs_geo_pe_1006.indd 571 1/19/15 2:38 PM

 Theorem
Theorem 10.20 Segments of Secants and Tangents Theorem
If a secant segment and a tangent segment share an A
endpoint outside a circle, then the product of the lengths
of the secant segment and its external segment equals E
the square of the length of the tangent segment.
C
D
Proof Exs. 21 and 22, p. 574 EA2 = EC ED ⋅
Using Segments of Secants and Tangents

Find RS. 16 Q
R
SOLUTION x
Segments of Secants 8
ANOTHER WAY RQ2 = RS RT ⋅ and Tangents Theorem
S
T
In Example 3, you can draw
— and QT
segments QS —. ⋅
162 = x (x + 8) Substitute.
256 = x2 + 8x Simplify.
16 Q
R 0= x2 + 8x − 256 Write in standard form.
x ——
−8 ± √ 82 − 4(1)(−256)
S 8 x = ——— Use Quadratic Formula.
2(1)
T —
x = −4 ± 4√ 17 Simplify.
Because ∠RQS and ∠RTQ Use the positive solution because lengths cannot be negative.
intercept the same arc, —
they are congruent. By So, x = −4 + 4√17 ≈ 12.49, and RS ≈ 12.49.
the Reflexive Property
of Congruence (Theorem
Finding the Radius of a Circle
2.2), ∠QRS ≅ ∠TRQ. So,
△RSQ ∼ △RQT by the Find the radius of the aquarium tank. B
AA Similarity Theorem
(Theorem 8.3). You can use 20 ft
SOLUTION
this fact to write and solve r r E
a proportion to find x. CB2 = CE CD ⋅ Segments of Secants
and Tangents Theorem
D
8 ft
C

⋅
202 = 8 (2r + 8) Substitute.
400 = 16r + 64 Simplify.
336 = 16r Subtract 64 from each side.
21 = r Divide each side by 16.

So, the radius of the tank is 21 feet.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

Find the value of x.

5. 6. 5 7. x
x
3 1 10
7 12
x

8. WHAT IF? In Example 4, CB = 35 feet and CE = 14 feet. Find the radius of

the tank.

572 Chapter 10 Circles

hs_geo_pe_1006.indd 572 1/19/15 2:38 PM

 10.6 Exercises Dynamic Solutions available at BigIdeasMath.com

Vocabulary and Core Concept Check

1. VOCABULARY The part of the secant segment that is outside the circle is called a(n) _____________.

2. WRITING Explain the difference between a tangent segment and a secant segment.

Monitoring Progress and Modeling with Mathematics

In Exercises 3–6, find the value of x. (See Example 1.) 15. ERROR ANALYSIS Describe and correct the error in
finding CD.
3. 4.

10
12

x
6 10
x−3
18 ✗ F 3 A 5
B
9 4
D
C
5. 6.
⋅
CD DF = AB AF ⋅
x 8
15 ⋅
CD 4 = 5 3 ⋅
6
x+8
2x 12 ⋅
CD 4 = 15
CD = 3.75
x+3

16. MODELING WITH MATHEMATICS The Cassini

In Exercises 7–10, find the value of x. (See Example 2.) spacecraft is on a mission in orbit around Saturn until
7. 8. September 2017. Three of Saturn’s moons, Tethys,
5 Calypso, and Telesto, have nearly circular orbits of
10 7 radius 295,000 kilometers. The diagram shows the
6 x
positions of the moons and the spacecraft on one
4
x of Cassini’s missions. Find the distance DB from
8 — is tangent to the circular
Cassini to Tethys when AD
orbit. (See Example 4.)
9. 10. 45
5 x
4
x+4 27 83,000 km
x−2
50 Tethys Calypso D
B C
Cassini
In Exercises 11–14, find the value of x. (See Example 3.)
11. 12. Saturn 203,000 km
Telesto
T l t
x 24 A

7 12 x
9

13. x 14.
12
x+4
3
2
x

Section 10.6 Segment Relationships in Circles 573

hs_geo_pe_1006.indd 573 1/19/15 2:38 PM

 17. MODELING WITH MATHEMATICS The circular stone 20. PROVING A THEOREM Prove the Segments of
mound in Ireland called Newgrange has a diameter Secants Theorem (Theorem 10.19). (Hint: Draw
of 250 feet. A passage 62 feet long leads toward a diagram and add auxiliary line segments to form
the center of the mound. Find the perpendicular similar triangles.)
distance x from the end of the passage to either
side of the mound. 21. PROVING A THEOREM Use the Tangent Line to Circle
Theorem (Theorem 10.1) to prove the Segments of
Secants and Tangents Theorem (Theorem 10.20) for
the special case when the secant segment contains the
center of the circle.

22. PROVING A THEOREM Prove the Segments of Secants

250 ft and Tangents Theorem (Theorem 10.20). (Hint: Draw
a diagram and add auxiliary line segments to form
x x similar triangles.)

62 ft 23. WRITING EQUATIONS In the diagram of the water

well, AB, AD, and DE are known. Write an equation
for BC using these three measurements.
F
D E
A G
B C

24. HOW DO YOU SEE IT? Which two theorems would

you need to use to find PQ? Explain your reasoning.

Q R
18. MODELING WITH MATHEMATICS You are designing 14
an animated logo for your website. Sparkles leave 12 S
point C and move to the outer
circle along the segments P
shown so that all of the
sparkles reach the outer circle C
4 cm 8 cm 25. CRITICAL THINKING In the A
at the same time. Sparkles B
travel from point C to D figure, AB = 12, BC = 8,
6 cm DE = 6, PD = 4, and A is
point D at 2 centimeters P C
per second. How fast should a point of tangency. Find D
sparkles move from point C to the radius of ⊙P.
E
point N? Explain. N
26. THOUGHT PROVOKING Circumscribe a triangle about
19. PROVING A THEOREM Write a two-column proof of a circle. Then, using the points of tangency, inscribe
the Segments of Chords Theorem (Theorem 10.18). a triangle in the circle. Must it be true that the two
Plan for Proof Use the diagram from page 570. triangles are similar? Explain your reasoning.
— and DB
Draw AC —. Show that △EAC and △EDB are
similar. Use the fact that corresponding side lengths
in similar triangles are proportional.

Maintaining Mathematical Proficiency Reviewing what you learned in previous grades and lessons

Solve the equation by completing the square. (Skills Review Handbook)

27. x2 + 4x = 45 28. x2 − 2x − 1 = 8
29. 2x2 + 12x + 20 = 34 30. −4x2 + 8x + 44 = 16

574 Chapter 10 Circles

hs_geo_pe_1006.indd 574 1/19/15 2:39 PM