What do people get confused by when finding tangent lines to a circle

Answer 1

One common confusion is the difference between a tangent line and a secant line. A tangent line is a line that intersects a circle at exactly one point, while a secant line intersects the circle at two points.

Another common confusion is the direction in which the tangent line should be drawn. It is important to remember that the tangent line to a circle at a specific point is perpendicular to the circle's radius at that point.

Additionally, finding the equation of the tangent line can be confusing for some people, especially if they are not familiar with calculus or geometry. The equation of a tangent line to a circle can be found using the slope of the radius at the point of tangency and applying the point-slope form of a linear equation.

Overall, finding tangent lines to a circle can be confusing due to the various definitions and concepts involved, but with proper understanding and practice, it can be easily mastered.