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Circle Theorems

The document discusses theorems related to angles and circles. It defines inscribed angles and discusses properties such as an inscribed angle being half of the central angle. It also discusses angles subtended by the same arc being equal and angles in a semicircle being right angles.

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Ridwan ibn Luqman
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48 views

Circle Theorems

The document discusses theorems related to angles and circles. It defines inscribed angles and discusses properties such as an inscribed angle being half of the central angle. It also discusses angles subtended by the same arc being equal and angles in a semicircle being right angles.

Uploaded by

Ridwan ibn Luqman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Circle Theorems

Some interesting things about angles and circles.

Inscribed Angle
First off, a definition:

Inscribed Angle: an angle made from points sitting on the circle's circumference.

A and C are "end points"


B is the "apex point"

Play with it here:

Drag a point!

© 2018 MathsIsFun.com v0.87

When you move point "B", what happens to the angle?


Inscribed Angle Theorems
An inscribed angle a° is half of the central angle 2a°

(Called the Angle at the Center Theorem)

And (keeping the end points fixed) ...

... the angle a° is always the same,


no matter where it is on the same arc between end points:

Angle a° is the same.


(Called the Angles Subtended by Same Arc Theorem)

Example: What is the size of Angle POQ? (O is circle's center)

Angle POQ = 2 × Angle PRQ = 2 × 62° = 124°


Example: What is the size of Angle CBX?

Angle ADB = 32° also equals Angle ACB.

And Angle ACB also equals Angle XCB.

So in triangle BXC we know Angle BXC = 85°, and Angle XCB = 32°

Now use angles of a triangle add to 180° :

Angle CBX + Angle BXC + Angle XCB = 180°

Angle CBX + 85° + 32° = 180°

Angle CBX = 63°

Angle in a Semicircle (Thales' Theorem)


An angle inscribed across a circle's diameter is always a right angle:

90°

(The end points are either end of a circle's diameter,


the apex point can be anywhere on the circumference.)

Why? Because:

The inscribed angle 90° is half of the central angle 180°

(Using "Angle at the Center Theorem" above)


Another Good Reason Why It Works

We could also rotate the shape around 180° to make


a rectangle!

It is a rectangle, because all sides are parallel, and


both diagonals are equal.

And so its internal angles are all right angles (90°).

So there we go! No matter where that angle is


on the circumference, it is always 90°

Example: What is the size of Angle BAC?

The Angle in the Semicircle Theorem tells us that Angle ACB = 90°

Now use angles of a triangle add to 180° to find Angle BAC:

Angle BAC + 55° + 90° = 180°

Angle BAC = 35°

Finding a Circle's Center

We can use this idea to find a circle's center:


draw a right angle from anywhere on the circle's circumference, then draw the
diameter where the two legs hit the circle
do that again but for a different diameter

Where the diameters cross is the center!

Drawing a Circle

When we know two opposite points on a circle we can draw that circle.

Put some pins or nails on those points and use a builder's square like this:

mo
c.n
ufs
ish
tam

Cyclic Quadrilateral
A "Cyclic" Quadrilateral has every vertex on a circle's circumference:

A Cyclic Quadrilateral's opposite angles add to 180°:

a + c = 180°
b + d = 180°
b°
c°
up °
d 0
Ad 18
to
a°
d°

Example: What is the size of Angle WXY?

Opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral add to 180°

Angle WZY + Angle WXY = 180°

69° + Angle WXY = 180°

Angle WXY = 111°

ius
Rad 90°
Tangent Angle
Tan
gen

A tangent line just touches a circle at one point.


t

It always forms a right angle with the circle's radius.


Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 Question 4 Question 5 Question 6
Question 7 Question 8 Question 9 Question 10

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