Rules for Dealing with Chords, Secants, Tangents in Circles

RULE 1 If two chords intersect in a circle, the product of the lengths of the segments of one chord equal the product of the segments of the other

Explanation for Rule 1: Intersecting Chords Rule: (segment part) • (segment part) = (segment part) • (segment part)

Rule 2 If two secant segments are drawn to a circle from the same external point, the product of the length of one secant segment and its external part is equal to the product of the length of the other secant segment and its external part.

Explanation for Rule 2 Secant-Secant Rule: (whole secant) • (external part) =   (whole secant) • (external part)

RULE THREE If a secant segment and tangent segment are drawn to a circle from the same external point, the product of the length of the secant segment and its external part equals the square of the length of the tangent segment

Explanation of Rule 3 Secant-Tangent Rule: (whole secant) • (external part) = (tangent)2