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 Circle Theorems

Euclid of Alexandria
Circa 325 - 265 BC

The library of Alexandria was

the foremost seat of learning
O in the world and functioned
like a university. The library
contained 600 000
manuscripts.
 A Reminder about parts of the Circle Ta
Circumference ng
Major Arc en
t

radius

Major Segment
diameter

ent
T an g chord

Minor Segment

Major Sector

Minor Arc

Minor Sector
Tangent
Parts
 Introductory Terminology
Term’gy
yo
yo

o o
xo xo
B
A
B B
A
A

Arc AB subtends angle x at the centre. xo

o
Arc AB subtends angle y at the circumference.
yo
Chord AB also subtends angle x at the centre.

Chord AB also subtends angle y at the circumference.

 Theorem 1 Th1
Measure the angles at the centre and circumference and make a conjecture.

x o xo
xo
o o o o
yo y o
yo yo
xo

x xo xo
x o o

o o o o
yo yo yo yo
 The angle subtended at the centre of a circle (by an arc
Theorem 1 or chord) is twice the angle subtended at the
circumference by the same arc or chord. (angle at centre)

Measure the angles at the centre and circumference and make a conjecture.

x o xo
xo
o o o o
2xo 2xo
2xo xo 2xo

Angle x is subtended in the minor segment.

x xo xo
x o o

o o o o
2xo 2xo 2xo 2xo
Watch for this
one later.
 Example Questions

Find the unknown angles giving reasons for your answers.

1 2
x o

o 35o o

84o yo

A A
B B

angle x = 42o (Angle at the centre).

angle y = 70o(Angle at the centre)
 Example Questions

Find the unknown angles giving reasons for your answers.

3 4
y o

62o B
o o qo
xo po

42o
A
B
A
angle x = (180 – 2 x 42) = 96o (Isos triangle/angle sum triangle).
angle y = 48o (Angle at the centre)

angle p = 124o (Angle at the centre)

angle q = (180 – 124)/2 = 280 (Isos triangle/angle sum triangle).
Theorem 2 The angle in a semi-circle is a right angle.
This is just a special case of Theorem 1 and
is referred to as a theorem for convenience.

Find the unknown

angles below stating a
o Diameter reason.

a
30o
c
angle a = 90o angle in a semi-circle d

o
angle b = 90o angle in a semi-circle

angle c = 20o angle sum triangle e

angle d = 90o angle in a semi-circle 70o
b
angle e = 60o angle sum triangle Th2
 Angles subtended by an arc or chord in
Theorem 3 the same segment are equal.

yo
x o
xo xo

yo
xo xo

Th3
Theorem 3 Angles subtended by an arc or chord in
the same segment are equal.

Find the unknown angles in each case

yo
38 o
xo 30o

40o
yo xo

Angle x = angle y = 38o Angle x = 30o

Angle y = 40o
 The angle between a tangent and a
Theorem 4
radius is 90o. (Tan/rad)

Th4
 The angle between a tangent and a
Theorem 4
radius is 90o. (Tan/rad)

o
 If OT is a radius and AB is a
tangent, find the unknown
30o angles, giving reasons for your
answers.
o
B
xo 36 o

yo
zo
T

A
angle x = 180 – (90 + 36) = 54o Tan/rad and angle sum of triangle.
angle y = 90o angle in a semi-circle

angle z = 60o angle sum triangle

Theorem 5 The Alternate Segment Theorem.
The angle between a tangent and a chord through the point of
contact is equal to the angle subtended by that chord in the
alternate segment.

Find the missing angles below

giving reasons in each case.

xo
yo
xo 60
o

yo xo
zo 45
o

yo

angle x = 45o (Alt Seg)

angle y = 60o (Alt Seg)
angle z = 75o angle sum triangle Th5
Theorem 6 Cyclic Quadrilateral Theorem.
The opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral are supplementary.
(They sum to 180o)

Th6 p
x

q
z
w s r

Angles y + w = 180o Angles p + r = 180o

Angles x + z = 180o Angles q + s = 180o

 Theorem 6 Cyclic Quadrilateral Theorem.
The opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral are supplementary.
(They sum to 180o)

70o
Find the missing r
x y angles below
110o given reasons in q
each case.

85o p
135o

angle x = 180 – 85 = 95o (cyclic quad) angle p = 180 – 135 = 45o (straight line)

angle y = 180 – 110 = 70o (cyclic quad) angle q = 180 – 70 = 110o (cyclic quad)

angle r = 180 – 45 = 135o (cyclic quad)

 Theorem 7 Two Tangent Theorem.
From any point outside a circle only two tangents can be drawn and
they are equal in length.
R
P

Q
R
Q U

T
T

PT = PQ PT = PQ
P
Th7 U
 Theorem 7 Two Tangent Theorem.
From any point outside a circle only two tangents can be drawn and
they are equal in length.

PQ and PT are tangents to a circle with centre

O. Find the unknown angles giving reasons.

yo
Q
xo O
angle w = 90o (tan/rad)
98o
angle x = 90o (tan/rad)
angle y = 49o (angle at centre)
angle z = 360o – 278 = 82o (quadrilateral)
zo wo
P T
 Theorem 7 Two Tangent Theorem.
From any point outside a circle only two tangents can be drawn and
they are equal in length.

PQ and PT are tangents to a circle with centre

O. Find the unknown angles giving reasons.

zo
Q
yo
O
angle w = 90o (tan/rad)
xo angle x = 180 – 140 = 40o (angles sum tri)

angle y = 50o (isos triangle)

angle z = 50o (alt seg)
80o wo 50o
P T
Theorem 8 Chord Bisector Theorem.
A line drawn perpendicular to a chord and passing through the
centre of a circle, bisects the chord..

Find length OS

O O
3 cm

S 8 cm T

OS = 5 cm (pythag triple: 3,4,5)

Th8
Theorem 8 Chord Bisector Theorem.
A line drawn perpendicular to a chord and passing through the
centre of a circle, bisects the chord..

Find angle x

O O
22o

xo
S T U

Angle SOT = 22o (symmetry/congruenncy)

Angle x = 180 – 112 = 68o (angle sum triangle)
 Mixed Questions

U PTR is a tangent line to the circle

at T. Find angles SUT, SOT, OTS
and OST.

S O
R

65o
T

Angle SUT = 65o (Alt seg)

P Angle SOT = 130o (angle at centre)
Angle OTS = 25o (tan rad)
Mixed Angle OST = 25o (isos triangle)

Q1
 Mixed Questions
Q PR and PQ are tangents to the
U circle. Find the missing angles
giving reasons.
P
y
110o
O

w
z x
48o
R

Angle w = 22o (cyclic quad)

Angle x = 68o (tan rad)
Angle y = 44o (isos triangle)
Angle z = 68o (alt seg)
Mixed Q 2
 Geometric Proofs
Thomas Hobbes: Philosopher and
scientist (1588 – 1679)

He was 40 years old before he looked in on Geometry, which

happened accidentally. Being in a Gentleman’s library, Euclid’s
Elements lay open and twas the 47 El libri 1. He read the
proposition. By God sayd he (he would now and then swear an
emphaticall Oath by way of emphasis) this is impossible! So he
reads the Demonstration of it which referred him back to
such a Proposition, which proposition he read. That referred
him back to another which he also read. Et sic deinceps that
at last he was demonstratively convinced of the trueth. This
made him in love with Geometry.
From the life of Thomas Hobbes in John Aubrey’s Brief Lives, about 1694
 Abraham Lincoln: 16th U.S. President
(1809 – 65)

…"He studied and nearly mastered the Six-books of Euclid

(geometry) since he was a member of Congress. He began a
course of rigid mental discipline with the intent to improve his
faculties, especially his powers of logic and language.
Hence his fondness for Euclid, which he carried with him on
the circuit till he could demonstrate with ease all the
propositions in the six books; often studying far into the night,
with a candle near his pillow, while his fellow-lawyers, half a
dozen in a room, filled the air with interminable snoring.“….
(Abraham Lincoln from Short Autobiography of 1860.)
 Albert Einstein

E=
mc 2
At the age of twelve I experienced a second wonder of a totally different
nature: in a little book dealing with Euclidean plane geometry, which came into
my hands at the beginning of a school year. Here were assertions as for
example, the intersection of the 3 altitudes of a triangle in one point, which–
though by no means evident, could nevertheless be proved with such certainty
that any doubt appeared to be out of the question. This lucidity and
certainty, made an indescribable impression upon me.
For example I remember that an uncle told me the Pythagorean Theorem
before the holy geometry booklet had come into my hands. After much
effort I succeeded in “proving” this theorem on the basis of similarity of
triangles. For anyone who experiences [these feelings] for the first time, it is
marvellous enough that man is capable at all to reach such a degree of
certainty and purity in pure thinking as the Greeks showed us for the first
time to be possible in geometry. From pp 9-11 in the opening autobiographical sketch of Albert
Einstein: Philosopher – Scientist, edited by Paul Arthur.Schillp, published 1951
 To Prove that the angle subtended by an arc or chord at the
centre of a circle is twice the angle subtended at the
circumference by the same arc or chord.

A To prove that angle COB = 2 x angle CAB

• Extend AO to D
 • AO = BO = CO (radii of same
• circle) AOB is isosceles(base angles
Triangle
equal)
O • Triangle AOC is isosceles(base angles equal)

• Angle AOB = 180 - 2 (angle sum triangle)
 B • Angle AOC = 180 - 2 (angle sum triangle)

C • Angle COB = 360 – (AOB + AOC)(<‘s at point)

• Angle COB = 360 – (180 - 2 + 180 - 2)

D • Angle COB = 2 + 2 = 2(+ ) = 2 x < CAB
Theorem 1 and 2
Proof 1/2 QED
 To Prove that angles subtended by an arc or chord in the same
segment are equal.

A To prove that angle CAB = angle BDC

• With centre of circle O draw lines

OB and OC.

D • Angle COB = 2 x angle CAB (Theorem 1).

O
• Angle COB = 2 x angle BDC (Theorem 1).

B • 2 x angle CAB = 2 x angle BDC

• Angle CAB = angle BDC
C
QED

Theorem 3
Proof 3
 To prove that the angle between a tangent and a radius drawn to
the point of contact is a right angle.

The type of proof that follows is a little different and is known as “Reductio
Note that this proof is given primarily for your interest and completeness.
ad absurdum” It was first exploited with great success by ancient Greek
Demonstration of the proof is beyond the GCSE course but is well worth
mathematicians. The idea is to assume that the premise is not true and then
looking at. The proofs up to now have been deductive proofs. That is they
apply a deductive argument that leads to an absurd or contradictory
start with a premise, (a statement to be proven) followed by a chain of
statement. The contradictory nature of the statement means that the “not
deductive reasoning that leads to the desired conclusion.
true” premise is false and so the premise is proven true.

1 To p ro v e “A” 2 As s u m e “n o t A”
3
A is p ro v e n
Ch a in o f d e d uc tiv e re a s on in g

“n o t A” fa ls e 5 4
Co n t ra d ic to ry s ta te m e n t

Proof 4
To prove that the angle between a tangent and a radius drawn to
the point of contact is a right angle.

To prove that OT is perpendicular to AB

• Assume that OT is not perpendicular to AB
• Then there must be a point, D say, on AB such
that OD is perpendicular to AB.
O
• Since ODT is a right angle then angle OTD is
C acute (angle sum of a triangle).
D • But the greater angle is opposite the greater
B side therefore OT is greater than OD.
A T • But OT = OC (radii of the same circle)
therefore OC is also greater than OD, the
1 To p ro v e “A” 2 As s u m e “n o t A”
part greater than the whole which is
3
impossible.
A is p ro v e n
Ch a in o f d e d uc tiv e re a s on in g
• Therefore OD is not perpendicular to AB.
• By a similar argument neither is any other
“n o t A” fa ls e 5 4
Co n t ra d ic to ry s ta te m e n t straight line except OT.
• Therefore OT is perpendicular to AB.
Theorem 4 QED
To prove that the angle between a tangent and a chord through the
point of contact is equal to the angle subtended by the chord in
the alternate segment.

D
90 - 
B Proof 5
2 To prove that angle BTD = angle TCD
C  O • With centre of circle O, draw straight lines
 OD and OT.
• Let angle DTB be denoted by .
90 -  T
• Then angle DTO = 90 -  (Theorem 4
• tan/rad)
Also angle TDO = 90 -  (Isos triangle)
A • Therefore angle TOD = 180 –(90 -  + 90 - )
= 2 (angle sum triangle)
• Angle TCD =  (Theorem 1 angle at the
centre)
Theorem 5 • Angle BTD = angle TCD QED
To prove that the opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral are
supplementary (Sum to 180o).

B To prove that angles A + C and B + D = 180 0

• Draw straight lines AC and BD
 
• Chord DC subtends equal angles  (same segment)
A  • Chord AD subtends equal angles  (same segment)
 • Chord AB subtends equal angles  (same segment)

• Chord BC subtends equal angles  (same segment)
 C
  • 2( +  +  + ) = 360o (Angle sum quadrilateral)

D •  +  +  +  = 180o
Angles A + C and B + D = 1800 QED
Proof 6
   
Theorem 6 alpha beta gamma delta
To prove that the two tangents drawn from a point outside a circle
are of equal length.

To prove that AP = BP.

A • With centre of circle at O, draw straight

lines OA and OB.
• OA = OB (radii of the same circle)
O
• Angle PAO = PBO = 90o (tangent radius).
P
• Draw straight line OP.
• In triangles OBP and OAP, OA = OB and
B OP is common to both.
• Triangles OBP and OAP are congruent (RHS)
• Therefore AP = BP. QED

Theorem 7
Proof 7
To prove that a line, drawn perpendicular to a chord and passing
through the centre of a circle, bisects the chord.

To prove that AB = BC.

• From centre O draw straight lines OA and OC.

O • In triangles OAB and OCB, OC = OA (radii of same

circle) and OB is common to both.
• Angle OBA = angle OBC (angles on straight line)
A B C • Triangles OAB and OCB are congruent (RHS)
• Therefore AB = BC QED

Theorem 8 Proof 8
Parts of the Circle

Worksheet 1
Measure the angle subtended at the centre (y) and the angle subtended at the

Th1
circumference (x) in each case and make a conjecture about their relationship.

xo xo
o o o
yo yo yo
xo

Worksheet 2
xo xo
x o

o o o
y o yo yo
 To Prove that the angle subtended by an arc or chord at the
centre of a circle is twice the angle subtended at the
circumference by the same arc or chord.

Worksheet 3
Theorem 1 and 2
 To Prove that angles subtended by an arc or chord in the same
segment are equal.

D O

Theorem 3 Worksheet 4
To prove that the angle between a tangent and a radius drawn to
the point of contact is a right angle.

B
A T

1 To p ro v e “A” 2 As s u m e “n o t A”
3
A is p ro v e n
Ch a in o f d e d uc tiv e re a s on in g

“n o t A” fa ls e 5 4
Co n t ra d ic to ry s ta te m e n t

Theorem 4 Worksheet 5
To prove that the angle between a tangent and a chord through the
point of contact is equal to the angle subtended by the chord in
the alternate segment.

C O

Theorem 5
Worksheet 6
 To prove that the opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral are
supplementary (Sum to 180o).

Worksheet 7
   
Theorem 6 Alpha Beta Chi delta
To prove that the two tangents drawn from a point outside a circle
are of equal length.

O
P

Theorem 7
Worksheet 8
To prove that a line, drawn perpendicular to a chord and passing
through the centre of a circle, bisects the chord.

A B C

Theorem 8
Worksheet 9