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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