HOMEWORK 2 PROBLEM #8

LESSON PLAN

The following lesson plan gives students a step-by-step process to follow for constructing a tangent line from a point to a circle.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

1. Construct any circle with radius and center (C) using a compass.

2. Construct any point (A) outside the circle.

3. Construct a segment from the center of the circle (C) to the point (A) outside the circle using a straight-edge.

4. Construct the midpoint (B) of the segment (AC) using only a compass.

5. Draw a circle (C') with a compass that has radius (BA).

6. Construct two new points where the two circles intersect and label them (D) and (E).

7. Construct the two lines (AD) and (AE) using a ruler. These lines will be the two external tangent lines to the circle.

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