An interactive applet and associated web page that demonstrate a tangent to a circle. (not trig). The applet shows a circle and a tangent line. The center point and the tangent contact point are both draggable. As you drag each, the figure changes to ensure that the line is always tangential to the circle. The line from the center to the tangent point is shown and the angle is shown to be always 90° no matter what you do. The perpendicular and its angle can be turned off for class discussion.

Applet can be enlarged to full screen size for use with a classroom projector. After use in the classroom, student can access it again from any web browser at home or in the library with no login required.

This resource is a component of the Math Open Reference Interactive Geometry textbook project at http://www.mathopenref.com.