Mathematics PRMO/RMO – Circles: Most Important Theorems

1 In the following figure, BE the diameter of the circle. Find the value of ‘x’ and DAB.

Solution:
BEA = 46°
EAB = 90°
x = 90° - 46° = 44°

2 In the given figure the angles ADE and ABC differ by 15°. Find CAE

Option:
1
(a) 10° (b) 7  (c) 15° (d) 30°
2
Answer: (c)
Solution:

From the given figure

AE > AC
  ADE > ABC
 (ADE - ABC) = 15°
AOE AOC
 − = 15
2 2
 AOE − AOC = 30
 COE = 30
1
 COE = COE = 15
2
3 Let ABCDE be a convex pentagon such that BCDE is a square with center O and ∠A = 90◦. Prove that
AO bisects ∠BAE.
Solution:
Observe that BAE = 90° and BOE = 90°. It follows that ABOE is cyclic. So OAE = OBE =
45° and BAO = BEO = 45°. It follows that OAE = BAO = 45°, as needed
The condition that ABCDE is convex ensures that A lies on the opposite side of BE as O, so there is
no need to worry about configuration issues and it is fine to just use standard angles

4 If a line intersect two concentric circles (circles with the same centre) with centre A at P,Q,R and S
then prove that PQ = RS
Solution:
Construction : Draw AM ⊥ PS
Proof :
 Consider larger circle
AM ⊥ chord Ps [construction]
PM = MS [Perpendicular from the centre of the circle to the chord, bisects the chord]
PQ + QM = MR + RS ….(i) [P-Q-M, M-R-S]
AM ⊥ Chord QR [ Construction]
QM = MR
PQ + QM = QM + RS [From (i) and (ii)]
PQ = RS
5 If circles are drawn taking two sides of a triangle as diameters, prove that the point of intersection of
these circles lie on the third side.
Solution:
Constructiion : Draw AD

Proof
ADB = 90° …(I)
ADC = 90° …(2)
Adding (1) and (2)
ADB + ADC = 90° + 90°
ADB + ADC = 180°
i.e. BD and DC are opposite rays BDC is a straight line
Hence, D lies on BC
6 Two circles intersect at two points B and C. Through B, two line segments ABD and PBQ are drawn
to intersect the circles at A,D and P,Q respectively (see figure) Prove that ACP= QCD
 Solution:
ACP = ABP [ Angles in the same segment are equal] …(i)
QCD = QBD [ Angles in the same segment are equal] …..(ii)
ABP = QBD [vertically opp. Angles]
 From (1), (2) and (3) we have
ACP = QCD
7 Points D, E, F lie on lines BC, CA, and AB of ABC, respectively. Prove that there exists a point lying
on all three circles (AEF), (BFD), (CDE).
Solution:
Let Circumcircles of BFD and CDE intersect at P other than D.

∠FPD = 180 – ∠B and ∠EPD = 180 – ∠C

⇒ ∠FPE = 360 – (∠FPD + ∠EPD) = ∠B + ∠C
⇒ ∠FPE + ∠A = 180
⇒ AFPE is cyclic quadrilateral

8 In the given figure , AB is the diameter of the circle with area  sq. units. Another circle is drawn with
C as centre, which is on the given circle and passing through A and B. Find the area of the shaded
region.
 Option
 2
(a) sq.units (b) sq.units (c) 1sq.units (d) 1.2.sq.units
3 3
Answer: (c)
Solution:
r1 = 1
∠ACB = 90°

r2 = 2

  1 
Area = −   2 −  2
2 4 2 
=1
9 Let PQ be a chord of a circle and M be the mid-point of PQ. Through M two chords AB and CD of the
circle are drawn. Chords AD and BC intersect PQ at points X and Y respectively. Prove that M is the
mid-point of the segment XY.
Solution:
Construction: From X we draw perpendicular lines to AB and CD, with feet X1 and X2
respectively. From Y draw perpendicular lines to AB and CD, with feet Y1 and Y2 respectively.

let MX = x, MY = y and PM = QM = a.
Using similar triangles we get
 x XX1 XX2 XX1 AX XX DX
= = , = and 2 =
y YY1 YY2 YY2 CY YY1 BY

x2 XX1 XX2
 = 
y2 YY1 YY2
XX1 XX2
= 
YY2 YY1

AX DX
= 
CY BY
PX  OX
= (By intersecting chords theorem)
PT  QY

=
( a + x )( a − x ) a2 − x 2
=
( a + y )( a − y ) a2 − y2
x2
 2 =1
y
x=y
Note: This problem is known as Butterfly theorem.

10 If isosceles ∆ABC (AB = AC) is inscribe in a circle and a point P is on arc BC prove that
PA AC
=
PB + PC BC
Solution:
By Ptolemy’s theorem

PA ⋅ BC = PB ⋅ AC + PC ⋅ AB
= PB ⋅ AC + PC ⋅ AC (As AB = AC)
⇒ PA ⋅ BC = (PB + PC) AC
PA AC
 =
PB + PC BC
 PA + PC PD
11 A square ABCD is inscribed in a circle and a point P is on arc BC then prove that =
PB + PD PA
Solution:

Since in a square ABCD, AB = BC = CD = DA = a (Say) and AC = BD = a 2 In cyclic

quadrilateral APCD, by
Ptolemy’s theorem
PA ⋅ CD + AD ⋅ PC = PD ⋅ AC]

⇒ (PA + PC)a = PD ⋅ a 2

⇒ PA + PC = PD a 2 (1)
In cyclic quadrilateral ABPD, by using Ptolemy’s theorem
PD ⋅ AB + PB ⋅ AD = PA ⋅ BD

⇒ (PD + PB)a = PA ⋅ a 2

⇒ PB + PD = PA a 2 (2)
PA + PC PD
From Eq. (1)/ Eq. (2) we get, =
PB + PD PA
Since in a square ABCD, AB = BC = CD = DA = a (Say) and AC = BD = a 2 In cyclic
quadrilateral APCD, by
Ptolemy’s theorem
PA ⋅ CD + AD ⋅ PC = PD ⋅ AC]

⇒ (PA + PC)a = PD ⋅ a 2

⇒ PA + PC = PD a 2 (1)
In cyclic quadrilateral ABPD, by using Ptolemy’s theorem
PD ⋅ AB + PB ⋅ AD = PA ⋅ BD

⇒ (PD + PB)a = PA ⋅ a 2
 ⇒ PB + PD = PA a 2 (2)
PA + PC PD
From Eq. (1)/ Eq. (2) we get, =
PB + PD PA

12 A regular pentagon ABCDE is inscribed in a circle and point P is chosen on arc BC.
Prove that PA + PD = PB + PC + PE.
Solution:
In cyclic quadrilateral ABPC, ABPD and ABPE by using Ptolemy’s theorem we get
AB ⋅ PC + AC ⋅ PB = AP ⋅ BC (1)
AB ⋅ PD + AD ⋅ PB = AP ⋅ BD (2)
AB ⋅ PE + AE ⋅ PB = AP ⋅ BE (3)
From Eq. (1) + Eq. (3) - Eq. (2)

AB(PC + PE - PD) + (AC + AE - AD)PB = (BC + BE - BD)APAB[PC + PE - PD] + AE ⋅ PB =

BC ⋅ AP (As AC = AD; BE = BD)
⇒ PC + PE - PD + PB = PA (As AB = AE = BC)
⇒ PC + PE + PB = PA + PD.

13 In scalene triangle ABC, let K be the intersection of the angle bisector of ∠A and the perpendicular
bisector of BC. Prove that the points A, B, C, K are concyclic.
Solution:
We assuming Ak bisects A and try to prove perpendicular KD bisect BC.

∠KBC = ∠KAC = ∠KAB = ∠KCB = x

Clearly KBC is isosceles triangle therefore KD bisects BC.
14 AB is chord of a circle with center O. CD is the diameter perpendicular to the chord AB, with AB
area of ABC
closer to C than to D. Given that  AOB = 90°, then the quotient = ____
area of AOD
Option:
2 1+ 2
(a) 2 − 1; (b) 2 − 2; (c) ; (d) ;
2 2
Answer: (b)
Solution:
Let the radius of the circle be 1. Then

SABC AE  CE
= =
AE  CE
= =
(
2  CE 2 1 − 1 2
= 2− 2
)
SAOD SAOD 1 OD 1
 AE  OD
2

15 Let ABC be a triangle and let P interior point such that BPC = 90°, BAP = BCP. Let M, N be the
mid points of AC, BC respectively. Suppose, BP = 2PM. Prove that A,P,N are collinear.
Solution:
Extend CP to D
Now, CP = PD

Let BCP = BAP = 

( BP is perpendicular bisector of CD)
Thus, BDP = 
Then BDP = BAP = 
Hence B,P, A,D all lie on circle
DAB = DPB = 90°
( P is mid point of CD and M is mid point of CA)
 PM||DA
Where DA = 2PM = BP
Thus,DBPA is an isosceles trapezium
And DB||PA
Hence, we get
DPA = BAP = BCP = NPC
 BPC = 90°
and N is mid point of CB
NP = NC = NB for right angled ∆BPC
Hence A,P and N are colinear