Circle Geometry Problem-Solving
1. The diagram shows a pair of triangles inscribed inside a circle. Is AC the diameter of the
circle? You must give reasons for your answer.
B
Diagram
58°
C not drawn
A accurately.
°
32
D
2. The diagram shows a circle, centre O. Calculate the size of angle x, giving reasons at each
stage of your working.
B
x
A
2°
Diagram
11
O not drawn
accurately.
49
D C
°
3. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with tangents to the circle at A and C. Calculate the size
of angle x, giving reasons at each stage of your working.
A
53° D
O
B x
Diagram
not drawn
C accurately.
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Circle Geometry Problem-Solving
4. ADE and BCE are straight lines. Prove that ABCD is a trapezium.
B
C
42° E
Diagram
D not drawn
A accurately.
5. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with a tangent at P. Given that the radius of the circle is
3cm, calculate the area of triangle AOP.
O
Diagram
° not drawn
40
A accurately.
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Circle Geometry Problem-Solving
6. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with tangents at M and N. Prove that triangles OMP
and ONP are congruent.
M
O
Diagram
not drawn
P accurately.
N
7. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with tangents at J and L. Given that angle JOL is one
and a half times larger than angle JKL, find the size of angle JKL, giving reasons at each stage
of your working.
J
O
Diagram
not drawn
accurately.
K L
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Circle Geometry Problem-Solving
8. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with a tangent at C. Show that y = 40 + x. Give reasons
for each stage of your working.
A x B
10
0°
Diagram
not drawn
y accurately.
C
9. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with tangents at B and D. Prove that y = 80 – 2x.
B C
50°
O
Diagram
not drawn
x
y accurately.
A D
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Circle Geometry Problem-Solving
10. The diagram shows a circle with a tangent at A. Prove that y = 70 + x.
C
B
y
E
D Diagram
70° not drawn
x accurately.
A
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Circle Geometry Problem-Solving Answers
1. The diagram shows a pair of triangles inscribed inside a circle. Is AC the diameter of the
circle? You must give reasons for your answer.
B
Diagram
58°
C not drawn
A accurately.
°
32
Yes. D
Angle BAC = 32° since angles in the same segment are equal.
Angle ABC = 180 – 58 – 32 = 90° since angles in a triangle sum to 180°.
We know that the angle subtended from the diameter is always 90° therefore AC
must be the diameter of the circle.
2. The diagram shows a circle, centre O. Calculate the size of angle x, giving reasons at each
stage of your working.
B
x
A
2°
Diagram
11
O not drawn
accurately.
49
D C
°
Angle BCD = 180 – 112 = 68° since opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral sum to 180°.
Angle BCO = 68 – 49 = 19°
x = 19° since triangle OBC is isosceles (OB = OC).
3. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with tangents to the circle at A and C. Calculate the size
of angle x, giving reasons at each stage of your working.
A
53° D
O
B x
Diagram
not drawn
C accurately.
Angle OAD = angle OCD = 90° since the radius and tangent meet at 90°.
Angle AOC = 360 – 90 – 90 – 53 = 127° since angles in a quadrilateral sum to 360°.
x = 127 ÷ 2 = 63.5° since the angle at the centre is double the angle at the circumference.
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Circle Geometry Problem-Solving Answers
4. ADE and BCE are straight lines. Prove that ABCD is a trapezium.
B
C
42° E
Diagram
D not drawn
A accurately.
Angle DCE = angle CDE = 69° since the base angles in an isosceles triangle are equal
and angles in a triangle sum to 180°.
Angle CDA = angle DCB = 111° since angles on a straight line sum to 180°.
Angle ABC = angle BAD = 69° since opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral sum to 180°.
Since angle BAD + CDA = 180°, they are supplementary angles and AB is parallel to CD.
ABCD is therefore a trapezium.
5. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with a tangent at P. Given that the radius of the circle is
3cm, calculate the area of triangle AOP.
O
Diagram
° not drawn
40
A accurately.
OP = 3cm
3
AP = tan(40°) = 3.57…
1 2
Area = 2 × 3 × 3.57… = 5.4cm correct to 1 decimal place.
6. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with tangents at M and N. Prove that triangles OMP and
ONP are congruent.
M
O
Diagram
not drawn
P accurately.
N
OM = ON since they are the radii of the circle.
Angle OMP = angle ONP = 90° since the tangent and radius meet at 90°.
MP = NP since tangents that meet at a point are equal in length.
By SAS, the triangles are congruent.
Alternatively, OP is a shared line. By RHS the triangles are congruent.
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Circle Geometry Problem-Solving Answers
7. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with tangents at J and L. Given that angle JOL is one
and a half times larger than angle JKL, find the size of angle JKL, giving reasons at each stage
of your working.
J
O
Diagram
not drawn
accurately.
K L
Angle OJK = angle OLK = 90° since the tangent and radius meet at 90°.
Let angle JKL = x, then angle JOL = 1.5x.
1.5x + x + 180 = 360 since angles in a quadrilateral add to 360°.
2.5x = 180
x = 72°
8. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with a tangent at C. Show that y = 40 + x. Give reasons
for each stage of your working.
A x B
O
10
0°
Diagram
not drawn
y accurately.
C
Angle ABO = x since OA and OB are radiuses and the base angles in an isosceles
triangle are equal.
Obtuse angle AOB = 180 – 2x° since angles in a triangle add to 180°.
Angle BOC = 360 – (100 + 180 – 2x) = 80 + 2x° since angles around a point sum to 360°.
Angle OCB = angle OBC since OC and OB are radiuses and the base angles in an
isosceles triangle are equal.
180 − (80 + 2x)
Angle OCB = angle OBC = 2 = 50 – x
The tangent and radius meet at 90°, so y = 90 – (50 – x)
y = 40 + x
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Circle Geometry Problem-Solving Answers
9. The diagram shows a circle, centre O, with tangents at B and D. Prove that y = 80 – 2x.
B C
50°
O
Diagram
not drawn
x
y accurately.
A D
Add in line OC. Angle OCD = x and angle OCB = 50° since the base angles in an
isosceles triangle are equal.
Angle BCD = 50 + x
Angle BOD = 100 + 2x since the angle at the centre is double the angle at the
circumference.
Angle ABO = angle ADO = 90° since the radius and tangent meet at 90°.
y = 360 – (180 + 100 + 2x)
y = 80 – 2x since angles in a quadrilateral add to 360°.
10. The diagram shows a circle with a tangent at A. Prove that y = 70 + x.
C
B
y
E
D Diagram
70° not drawn
x accurately.
A
Angle ABD = x, alternate segment theorem.
Angle AEB = 180 – 70 – x = 110 – x since angles in a triangle add to 180°.
y = 180 – (110 – x)
y = 70 + x since angles on a straight line add to 180°.
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