Education Technology

Segments Formed by Intersecting Chords, Secants, and Tangents

Subject Area
Math: Geometry: Circles
Level
9-12
Activity Time
90 Minutes
Software
TI Connect™
TI Calculator
TI-84 series
Other Materials
This is Activity 28 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
Cabri™ Jr.: Interactive Geometry Activities and Investigations".
Resource Types
Lessons

Segments Formed by Intersecting Chords, Secants, and Tangents

Activity Overview

This activity is designed to help students discover several important theorems concerning lengths of segments formed by intersecting chords, secants, and tangents.

Before the Activity

  • Install the Cabri Jr. App on the students' graphing calculators using TI Connect™, a TI Connectivity Cable and the Unit-to-Unit Link Cable
  • Use the TI-Navigator™ to transfer the attached Cabri Jr. AppVar files to each calculator
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 189 - 192 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Use the AppVar to go directly to the exploration section
  • Construct a circle with two intersecting chords
  • Use the Calculate tool to investigate the relationship between the four segments determined by intersecting chords
  • Construct a circle with two secants that intersect outside the circle
  • Construct a circle with a tangent and a secant that intersect outside the circle
  • Use the Calculate tool to investigate the relationship between the secant segments and their external segments
  • After the Activity

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary
  • Subject Area
    Math: Geometry: Circles
    Level
    9-12
    Activity Time
    90 Minutes
    Software
    TI Connect™
    TI Calculator
    TI-84 series
    Other Materials
    This is Activity 28 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Cabri™ Jr.: Interactive Geometry Activities and Investigations".
    Resource Types
    Lessons
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