Circle Theorems

Properties

Circles
Circle Theorems
Angles Subtended on the Same Arc
Angle in a Semi-Circle with Proof
Tangents
Angle at the Centre with Proof
Alternate Segment Theorem with Proof
Cyclic Quadrilaterals

Circles
A circle

is a set of points
which are all a certain
distance from a fixed point
known as the centre (O).
A line joining the centre of
a circle to any of the points
on the circle is known as a
radius (AO & BO).

Circles
The

circumference of a
circle is the length of the
circle. The circumference
of a circle = 2 the
radius.
The red line in this
diagram is called a chord.
It divides the circle into a
major segment and a
minor segment.

Angles Subtended on the Same Arc

Angles

formed from two

points on the
circumference are equal to
other angles, in the same
arc, formed from those two
points.

Angle in a Semi-Circle
Angles

formed by drawing
lines from the ends of the
diameter of a circle to its
circumference form a right
angle. So C is a right
angle.

Proof

We can split the triangle in two

by drawing a line from the
centre of the circle to the point
on the circumference our
triangle touches.
We know that each of the lines
which is a radius of the circle
(the green lines) are the same
length. Therefore each of the
two triangles is isosceles and
has a pair of equal angles.

Proof
But

all of these angles

together must add up to
180, since they are the
angles of the original big
triangle.
Therefore x + y + x + y =
180, in other words 2(x +
y) = 180. And so x + y =
90.

Tangents
A tangent

to a circle is a
straight line which touches
the circle at only one point
A tangent to a circle forms
a right angle with the
circle's radius, at the point
of contact of the tangent.

Tangents
If

two tangents are drawn

on a circle and they cross,
the lengths of the two
tangents (from the point
where they touch the circle
to the point where they
cross) will be the same.

Angle at the Centre

The

angle formed at the

centre of the circle by lines
originating from two points
on the circle's
circumference is double
the angle formed on the
circumference of the circle
by lines originating from
the same points. i.e. a =
2b.

Proof
OA =

OX since both of
these are equal to the
radius of the circle.
The triangle AOX is
therefore isosceles and so
OXA = a. Similarly,
OXB = b.

Proof

Since the angles in a triangle

add up to 180, we know that
XOA = 180 - 2a
Similarly, BOX = 180 - 2b
Since the angles around a
point add up to 360, we have
that AOB = 360 - XOA BOX
= 360 - (180 - 2a) - (180 2b)
= 2a + 2b = 2(a + b) = 2 AXB

Alternate Segment Theorem

The

alternate segment theorem shows that the

red angles are equal to each other and the
green angles are equal to each other.

Proof
A tangent

makes an angle
of 90 with the radius of a
circle, so we know that
OAC + x = 90.
The angle in a semi-circle
is 90, so BCA = 90.

Proof
The

angles in a triangle
add up to 180, so BCA
+ OAC + y = 180.

Therefore 90 + OAC + y =
180 and so OAC + y = 90.

But OAC + x = 90, so OAC

+ x = OAC + y.

Hence x = y.

Cyclic Quadrilaterals
A cyclic

quadrilateral is a four-sided figure in a

circle, with each vertex (corner) of the
quadrilateral touching the circumference of the
circle. The opposite angles of such a
quadrilateral add up to 180.