Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

Circle Geometry
Properties of a Circle
Circle Theorems:
! Angles and chords
! Angles
! Chords
! Tangents
! Cyclic Quadrilaterals

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

Properties of a Circle

Radius
Major Segment

Diameter
Chord
Minor Segment

Tangent

Concyclic points form a Cyclic Quadrilateral

Sector

Arc

Tangents Externally and Internally

Concentric circles

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

Circle Theorems
! Equal arcs subtend equal angels at the
l centre of the circle.

! If two arcs subtend equal angles at the

centre of the circle, then the arcs are
equal.
θ
O
l = rθ
θ

l
! Equal chords subtend equal angles at the
centre of the circle.

|| ! Equal angles subtended at the centre of

the circle cut off equal chords.

θ
O
θ

||

S OB = OC (radius of circle)
A A ∠BOA = ∠COD (vert. opp. Angles)
|| B
S OA = OD (radius of circle)
∴ ∆BOA ≡ ∆COD (SAS)
AB = DC (corresponding sides in ≡ ∆ ' s )
θ
O
θ

D ||
C

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

! A perpendicular line from the centre of a

circle to a chord bisects the chord.

! A line from the centre of a circle that

bisects a chord is perpendicular to the
chord.
O

| |

R ∠OMB = ∠OMA (straight line)

H OB = OA (radius of circle)
S OM = MO (common)
∴ ∆AOM ≡ ∆BOM (RHS)
AM = BM (corresponding sides in ≡ ∆ ' s )
O

A | | B
M

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

! Equal chords are equidistant from the

centre of the circle.

! Chords that are equidistant from the

centre are equal.

||
O

A
R ∠ANO = ∠BMO = 90° (A line from the
centre of a circle that bisects a chord is
perpendicular to the chord)
N H AO = BO (Radius of Circle)
S NO = MO (given)
∴ ∆ANO ≡ ∆BMO (RHS)
|| M
O

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

Internally ! The products of intercepts of intersecting

A chords are equal

AX.XB = CX.XD
C

D B

A Prove ∆AXD ||| ∆CXD

A ∠AXD = ∠CXB (vertically opp)

C A ∠XAD = ∠XCB (Angle standing on the
same arc)
X A ∠XDA = ∠XBC (Angle sum of triangle)

Correspond sides
AX CX
=
XD XB
∴ AX . XB = CX . XD
D B

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

Externally ! The square of the length of the tangent

from an external point is equal to the
product of the intercepts of the secant
passing through this point.

(AX)2 = BX.CX

B X
C

Externally
Prove ∆ACX ||| ∆BAX

A ∠AXC = ∠BXA (common)

A ∠XAC = ∠XBA (Angle in alternate
segment)
A ∠ACX = ∠BAX (Angle sum of triangle)
A
Correspond sides
AX BX
=
CX AX
∴ ( AX ) 2 = BX .CX
B X
C

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

! The angle at the centre of a circle is twice

the angle at the circumference subtended
by the same arc.
θ

2θ

Let ∠CAO = α
A
Let ∠BAO = β
AO = CO = BO (radius of circle)
α β
∴ ∠ACO = α (base angles of isosceles ∆ )
∴ ∠ABO = β (base angles of isosceles ∆ )
∠COD = 2α (exterior angle = two opposite
O interior angles)
∠BOD = 2 β (exterior angle = two opposite
β interior angles)
α B
∠CAB = α + β
C ∠COD = 2(a + β )

! Angle in a semicircle is a right angle.

180

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

! Angles standing on the same arc are

equal.

A Prove ∆AXD ||| ∆CXD

A ∠AXD = ∠CXB (vertically opp)

A ∠XAD = ∠XCB (Angle standing on the
same arc)
A ∠XDA = ∠XBC (Angle sum of triangle)
C
X Corresponding angles of similar triangles are
equal
D

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

! Tangents to a circle from an exterior

point are equal.

C
Prove ∆OAC ≡ ∆OBC

R ∠OAC = ∠OBC (90°)

H OC = OC (common)
S OA = )B (radii)

∴ ∆OAC ≡ ∆OBC RHS

B
∴AC = BC (corresponding sides in
A
|| congruent triangles)
O

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

! When two circles touch, the line through

their centres passes through their point of
contact.

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

! The angle between a tangent and a chord

through the point of contact is equal to
the angle in the alternate segment.

X Let ∠XAB = α
Let ∠BAQ = β
B
C ∴ α + β = 90 °

∠AXB = β (angle in semicircle is 90°,

complementary angle)
∠ACB = ∠AXB (angle on the same arc)

∴ ∠ACB = ∠BAQ

Q
A

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 Maths Extension 1 – Circle Geometry

! The opposite angles in a cyclic

A quadrilateral are supplementary.
α
! If the opposite angles of a quadrilateral
are supplementary, then the quadrilateral
is cyclic.

180 − β B

D
β

180 − α
C

! The exterior angle of s cyclic

A quadrilateral is equal to the interior
α opposite angle.

α
C

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