Two tangent segments PA and PB are drawn to a circle with centre O such that ∠APB = 120°. Prove that OP = 2 AP.
Let us first put the given data in the form of a diagram. We have,
Consider and . We have,
Here, PO is the common side.
PA = PB (Length of two tangents drawn from the same external point will be equal)
OA = OB(Radii of the same circle)
By SSS congruency, we have is congruent to .
Therefore,
It is given that,
That is,
$\angle A P O+\angle B P O=120^{\circ}$
$2 \angle A P O=120^{-}($Since $\angle A P O=\angle B P O)$
$\angle A P O=60^{\circ}$
In $\triangle P A O$
$\angle P A O=90^{\circ}$ (Since radius will be perpendicular to the tangent at the point of contact)
We know that,
$\cos 60=\frac{A P}{P O}$
$\frac{1}{2}=\frac{A P}{O P}$
$O P=2 A P$
Thus we have proved.