Circle Theorems Lesson 3
Reminder:
Note 0: RHS case stands for (Right angle, Hypotenuse, Side).
Note 1: SSA may make 2 triangles or none!
Note 2: There is a special case of SSA which is unique. This occurs when the second angle
(not enclosed between the sides) happens to be exactly 90°.
Note: any 2 shapes can be “congruent” if they are the same (just moved or flipped).
Activity 1: Some review/ practice
Activity 2: 5 Circle Theorems - 10 minutes (time so far 10 mins)
Theorem 1: If 2 chords have the same length, they are the same distance from the centre
of the circle.
Proof:
Let AB and CD be any 2 chords such that AB = CD. Let x and y be the respective distance
from the centre.
AO = OC and BO = OD (all radii). Meanwhile AB = CD (given). Therefore by SSS, AOB and
COD are congruent triangles.
Since x and y are just the height of the triangle when the chord is used as the base, the 2
heights must be equal.
Therefore x = y.
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Theorem 2: The angle an arc of a circle subtends (cuts) at the centre is double the angle
that the same arc subtends at any point on the remaining part of the circumference.
Proof:
Draw a line from P to O (the circle centre) and extend it further. AOP and BOP are both
isosceles triangles with PO = OB and PO = OA, all equal to the radius of the circle.
Note that for any triangle the third angle is 180 - the
sum of the other 2. So, if you extend one of the equal
sides of an isosceles triangle as shown, the angle
created is:
180 - (180 - 2a) = 2a
which is double the repeated angle.
Applying this to AOP and BOP you find that y1 = 2x1 and y2 = 2x2 where the x1, x2, y1 and y2
are the respective parts of x and y such that x1 + x2 = x and y1 + y2 = y.
Substituting in gives y = 2x1+ 2x2 = 2x
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Theorem 3: Any angle subtended in a semi-circle is 90 degrees.
Let AOB be a diameter and P be any point on the circle. From theorem 2 AOB = 2 x APB.
But AOB is 180° so APB = 90°.
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Theorem 4: Any 2 angles subtended on the circumference in the same segment are equal.
Proof: Let AB be any 2 points on the circumference of a circle making a chord. Let P and Q
be any 2 distinct points on the circumference in the same segment.
From Theorem 2, AOB = 2y and also from Theorem 2, AOB = 2x. Therefore x = y.
口
Theorem 5: Angles subtended on the circumference in opposite segments are
supplementary (add up to 180 degrees).
Proof: From Theorem 2 we have x = 2p and also from theorem 2 we have y = 2q.
But x + y = 360.
Therefore x + y = 2p + 2q = 2(p + q) = 360
=> p + q = 180
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Tangent Theorem 2:
Proof:
Choose D such that DOT is a diameter.
Using the theorem of 2 angles in the same segment, TDC = TPC = x.
Using the theorem of angles subtended in a semi-circle, TCD = 90°.
Therefore DTC = 90 - x
But using theorem 1, we also have CTB = 90 - DTC = 90 - (90 - x) = x
Therefore y = x
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Corollary: It follows that angle ATC = CQT = 180 - x whenever Q lies on the minor arc CT
(alternate segment).
Activity 2: Practice Questions:
1) A chord HK of length 16cm is placed in a circle, centre C, of radius 10cm. Calculate
the distance from C to HK.
2) Two circles, centres P and Q, intersect at R and S. The mid-point of RS is M. Prove
that P, M, and Q are collinear.
3) Two circles, centres A and B, of radii 10cm and 17cm respectively, intersect at P and
Q. Given that PQ = 16cm, calculate the distance AB.
4) The chord AB of a circle subtends an angle of 118° at the centre, O (i.e. AOB = 118).
Points P and Q are on the major and minor arcs AB, respectively. Find angles APB
and AQB.
5) Points A, B, C are taken in order on a circle. The bisector of angle ABC meets the
circle again at D. Given that ABC = 58° and BAD = 70°, find the angles ADB and BDC.
6) The co-ordinates of the centre of a circle are (a, b). Show that for any point (x, y) on
the circumference of the circle (x - a)2 + (y - b)2 = r2
7) Draw any cyclic quadrilateral (a 4-sided shape whose corners all lie on a circle). Let
the centre of the circle be O. Draw lines to join AO, BO, CO, and DO. By considering
the isosceles triangles so formed (e.g. OAB) prove from first principles that the
opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral are supplementary (add up to 180).
Solutions can be found here.
Rest of Class and Homework:
No new homework but you are encouraged to finish working through the above questions.
