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Theorem:

There are three unique cases for this theorem. Each case expresses the relationship between the length of line segments that pass through a common point and touch a circle in at least one point. Can be useful with cyclic quadrilaterals as well however with a slightly different application.

Case 1 (Inside the Circle):

If two chords $AB$ and $CD$ intersect at a point $P$ within a circle, then $AP\cdot BP=CP\cdot DP$

$[asy] draw(circle((0,0),3)); dot((-2.82,1)); label("A",(-3.05,1.25)); dot((1,2.828)); label("B",(1.25,3.05)); draw((-2.82,1)---(1,2.828)); dot((2.3,-1.926)); label("C",(2.55,-2.346)); dot((-2.12,2.123)); label("D",(-2.37,2.507)); draw((2.3,-1.926)---(-2.12,2.123)); dot((-1.556,1.602)); label("P",(-1.656,1.202)); [/asy]$

Case 2 (Outside the Circle):

Classic Configuration

Given lines $AB$ and $CB$ originate from two unique points on the circumference of a circle ( $A$ and $C$ ), intersect each other at point $B$ , outside the circle, and re-intersect the circle at points $F$ and $G$ respectively, then $BF\cdot BA=BG\cdot BC$

$[asy] draw(circle((0,0),3)); dot((1.5,2.598)); label("A",(2,3)); label("B",(-6,1.6)); dot((-6,1)); label("C",(2.55,-2.5)); dot((2.12,-2.123)); dot((-2.996,-0.155)); label("G",(-3.350, -0.6)); dot((-2.429,1.761)); label("F",(-2.729,2.061)); draw((1.5,2.598)---(-6,1)); draw((2.12,-2.123)---(-6,1)); [/asy]$

Tangent Line

Given Lines $AB$ and $AC$ with $AC$ tangent to the related circle at $C$ , $A$ lies outside the circle, and Line $AB$ intersects the circle between $A$ and $B$ at $D$ , $AD\cdot AB=AC^{2}$

$[asy] draw(circle((0,0),3)); dot((0,3)); label("C",(0,3.5)); dot((-8,3)); label("A",(-8,3.5)); dot((2.5,-1.658)); label("B",(2.8,-1.958)); draw((0,3)---(-8,3)); draw((2.5,-1.658)---(-8,3)); dot((-2.907,0.741)); label("D",(-3.357,0.421)); [/asy]$

Case 3 (On the Border/Useless Case):

If two chords, $AB$ and $AC$ , have $A$ on the border of the circle, then the same property such that if two lines that intersect and touch a circle, then the product of each of the lines segments is the same. However since the intersection points lies on the border of the circle, one segment of each line is $0$ so no matter what, the constant product is $0$ .

$[asy] draw(circle((0,0),3)); dot((1,2.828)); label("A",(1.4,3.028)); dot((-2.5,-1.658)); label("B",(-2.8,-1.958)); dot((2.04,-2.2)); label("C",(2.34,-2.5)); draw((1,2.828)---(-2.5,-1.658)); draw((1,2.828)---(2.04,-2.2)); [/asy]$

Proof

Problems

Introductory (AMC 10, 12)

Intermediate (AIME)

Olympiad (USAJMO, USAMO, IMO)

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Creator: Proof Writer: Other Editors (feel free to put username if you contributed):

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