Question

The number of tangents that can be drawn from an external point to a circle is ______.

Options

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Answer 1

The number of tangents that can be drawn from an external point to a circle is 2.

Explanation:

From a point P outside a circle you can draw exactly two distinct lines that touch the circle at one point each (two tangents). Geometrically, joining the centre O to P and using the right triangles at the points of contact shows two symmetric tangent lines from P.