If tangents PA and PB from a point P to a circle with centre O are inclined to each other at angle of 80°, then ∠POA is equal to

Question

(A) 50° (B) 60° (C) 70° (D) 80°

Answer 1

OA and OB are radii of the circle to the tangents PA and PB respectively.
∴ OA ⊥ PA and,
∴ OB ⊥ PB
∠OBP = ∠OAP = 90°

In quadrilateral AOBP,
Sum of all interior angles = 360°
∠AOB + ∠OBP + ∠OAP + ∠APB  = 360°
⇒ ∠AOB + 90° + 90° + 80°  = 360°

⇒ ∠AOB = 100°

Now, In ΔOPB and ΔOPA,
AP = BP (Tangents from a point are equal)
OA = OB (Radii of the circle)
OP = OP (Common side)
∴ ΔOPB ≅ ΔOPA (by SSS congruence condition)

Thus ∠POB = ∠POA

∠AOB = ∠POB + ∠POA

⇒ 2 ∠POA = ∠AOB

⇒ ∠POA = 100°/2 = 50°

∠POA is equal to option  (A) 50°