Equation of Chord of Contact on Circle Centered at Origin
Theorem
Let $\CC$ be a circle whose radius is $r$ and whose center is at the origin of a Cartesian plane.
Let $P = \tuple {x_0, y_0}$ be a point which is outside the boundary of $\CC$.
Let $UV$ be the chord of contact on $\CC$ with respect to $P$.
Then $UV$ can be defined by the equation:
- $x x_0 + y y_0 = r^2$
Proof
Let $\TT_1$ and $\TT_2$ be a tangents to $\CC$ passing through $P$.
Let:
Then the chord of contact on $\CC$ with respect to $P$ is defined as $UV$.
From Equation of Tangent to Circle Centered at Origin, $\TT_1$ is expressed by the equation:
- $x x_1 + y y_1 = r^2$
but as $\TT_1$ also passes through $\tuple {x_0, y_0}$ we also have:
- $x_0 x_1 + y_0 y_1 = r^2$
This also expresses the condition that $U$ should lie on $\TT_1$:
- $x x_0 + y y_0 = r^2$
Similarly, From Equation of Tangent to Circle Centered at Origin, $\TT_2$ is expressed by the equation:
- $x x_2 + y y_2 = r^2$
but as $\TT_2$ also passes through $\tuple {x_0, y_0}$ we also have:
- $x_0 x_2 + y_0 y_2 = r^2$
This also expresses the condition that $V$ should lie on $\TT_2$:
- $x x_0 + y y_0 = r^2$
So both $U$ and $V$ lie on the straight line whose equation is:
- $x x_0 + y y_0 = r^2$
and the result follows.
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- 1933: D.M.Y. Sommerville: Analytical Conics (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text {III}$. The Circle: $4$. Pole and polar