Question

The radius of circle G is 4 cm. Which is a tangent of circle G.

Answer 1

-AB
-CD
-BF
-FE

Answer 2

Do you understand what it means to be "tangent"?

Answer 3

Can you please explain what it means. I don't really understand it.

Answer 4

Something tangential touches the perimeter at a single point. If you think about the earth as a circle, a spaceship brushing across the atmosphere is on a path tangent to the earth.

Answer 5

So it would be FE in this case?

Answer 6

Under the circumstances, I would say no, look at the angle it creates with the radius

Answer 7

I am confused.

Answer 8

Okay, look at the line segment FE where it meets with the radius GF, the only way it can be tangent to the circle is if it is perpendicular to the radius. What can you say about lines that are perpendicular and the angles they create?

Answer 9

They create 90 degree angles

Answer 10

CD creates a 90 degree angle!

Answer 11

Exactly. So looking at FE and GF, would you say that is 90 degrees?

Answer 12

Wait, I think I am wrong...

Answer 13

Take your time, looking carefully, which one looks closest to a 90?

Answer 14

I have no clue, they all look the same.

Answer 15

You are on the right track, FE is out, BF is out, so you are left with CD and AB. If you were to extend each of those lines, which goes into the circle and which skims it?

Answer 16

Looking over this I see something I missed. I am sorry that I misled you. They give you enough information to find the 90 degrees and your first guess was correct, FE is tangent. If you are interested I can show you how to verify this.

Answer 17

Oops, I meant is it because it is a 3 4 5 triangle?

Answer 18

Exactly. Sorry again for taking you in the wrong direction.
Nice work figuring it out though.