Prove that the intercept of a tangent between two parallel tangents to a circle subtends a right angle at the centre.
Given: XY and X′Y′ at are two parallel tangents to the circle with centre O and AB is the tangent at the point C, which intersects XY at A and X′Y′ at B.
To Prove: ∠AOB = 90°
Construction: Let us joint point O to C.
Proof:
In ΔOPA and ΔOCA, we have
OP = OC (Radii of the same circle)
AP = AC (Tangents from point A)
AO = AO (Common side)
ΔOPA ≅ ΔOCA (SSS congruence criterion)
Therefore, ∠POA = ∠COA ……(i) (C.P.C.T)
Similarly, ΔOQB ≅ ΔOCB ……(ii)
Since POQ is a diameter of the circle, it is a straight line.
Therefore, ∠POA + ∠COA + ∠COB + ∠QOB = 180°
From equations (i) and (ii), it can be observed that
2∠COA + 2∠COB = 180°
∴ ∠COA + ∠COB = 90°
So, ∠AOB = 90°.