What type of angle is formed by a tangent and a radius in a circle?

What type of angle is formed by a tangent and a radius in a circle?

• A. Acute angle
• B. Obtuse angle
• C. Right angle
• D. Straight angle

Answer: (C)

The angle formed by a tangent to a circle and the radius drawn to the point of tangency is always a right angle. This holds true because when a line is tangent to a circle, it meets the radius at exactly one point (the point of tangency) and creates a perpendicular relationship between the tangent line and the radius. This property stems from the definition of a tangent: it touches the circle at a single point without crossing it, ensuring that the angle created with the radius is precisely 90 degrees. Thus, the correct classification of the angle is a right angle.

The angle formed by a tangent to a circle and the radius drawn to the point of tangency is always a right angle. This holds true because when a line is tangent to a circle, it meets the radius at exactly one point (the point of tangency) and creates a perpendicular relationship between the tangent line and the radius. This property stems from the definition of a tangent: it touches the circle at a single point without crossing it, ensuring that the angle created with the radius is precisely 90 degrees. Thus, the correct classification of the angle is a right angle.