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    Geometry Cheatsheet: Definitions

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    kdsafl
    This document provides definitions and tips for solving geometry problems. It defines the incentre, circumcentre, centroid, and orthocentre of triangles. It then lists generic tips for using given information like tangents or diameters. Specific angle recipes and length recipes are provided, such as the exterior angle formula, Ptolemy's Theorem, and using similar triangles. A table of trigonometric ratios for common angles is included for reference.

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    Geometry Cheatsheet: Definitions

    Uploaded by

    kdsafl
    85 views2 pages
    This document provides definitions and tips for solving geometry problems. It defines the incentre, circumcentre, centroid, and orthocentre of triangles. It then lists generic tips for using given information like tangents or diameters. Specific angle recipes and length recipes are provided, such as the exterior angle formula, Ptolemy's Theorem, and using similar triangles. A table of trigonometric ratios for common angles is included for reference.

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    This document provides definitions and tips for solving geometry problems. It defines the incentre, circumcentre, centroid, and orthocentre of triangles. It then lists generic tips for using given information like tangents or diameters. Specific angle recipes and length recipes are provided, such as the exterior angle formula, Ptolemy's Theorem, and using similar triangles. A table of trigonometric ratios for common angles is included for reference.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    85 views2 pages

    Geometry Cheatsheet: Definitions

    Uploaded by

    kdsafl
    This document provides definitions and tips for solving geometry problems. It defines the incentre, circumcentre, centroid, and orthocentre of triangles. It then lists generic tips for using given information like tangents or diameters. Specific angle recipes and length recipes are provided, such as the exterior angle formula, Ptolemy's Theorem, and using similar triangles. A table of trigonometric ratios for common angles is included for reference.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Geometry Cheatsheet

    Definitions

    Centres of triangles:

    Incentre – Intersection of angle bisectors


    Circumcentre – intersection of
    (the incentre would be the centre of a circle
    perpendicular bisectors (the circumcentre
    inscribed inside the triangle)
    would be the centre of the circle
    circumscribing the triangle)

    Centroid – Intersection of medians


    Orthocentre – intersection of altitudes
    (i.e. a line from a vertex to the opposite
    side such that the altitude and this side
    are perpendicular)

    Generic Tips

    1. Reflect on the significance of each piece of information given to you:


    a. We have a tangent?
    We’ll likely be able to use the Alternate Segment Theorem (which you should expect
    to use a lot!). If there’s a chord attached, use it immediately. If there’s isn’t a chord,
    consider adding an appropriate one so we can use the theorem!
    The additional presence of the radius (or adding the radius) gives us a 90° angle.
    b. Two circles touch?
    We have a tangent. The centres of the circles and the point of contact are collinear,
    and we can use the tips in (a).
    c. We’re given the diameter?
    The angle subtended by any point on the circumference is 90°.
    2. Use variables to represent appropriate unknown angles/lengths. Form equations (e.g. using
    Pythagoras, or comparing lengths) to find the values of these variables.
    3. Look out for similar triangles whenever you notice angles that are the same. This allows us
    to compare lengths.
    4. Justify your assumptions. It’s incredibly easy to lose easy marks in the BMO this way.
    5. Extend or add lines where necessary.
    6. Remember that ‘if and only if’ requires us to prove in both directions.
    www.drfrostmaths.com/rzc
    Recipes for angles

    The reverse also applies for the first and last of these. i.e. If a triangle is right-angled, then the
    hypotenuse is the diameter of the circumscribed circle. And if the opposite angles of a quadrilateral
    add up to 180°, it’s a cyclic quadrilateral.
    Exterior angle of triangle = sum of two other internal angles.

    Recipes for lengths

     Ptolemy’s Theorem: 𝑨𝑪 × 𝑩𝑫 = (𝑨𝑩 × 𝑫𝑪) + (𝑨𝑫 × 𝑩𝑪)


    (i.e. product of the two diagonals of a cyclic quadrilateral is the sum of the
    products of the opposite pairs of sides)

     Intersecting Chord Theorem:  Angle Bisector Theorem  Intersecting Secant Length Theorem
    𝑎𝑏 = 𝑥𝑦 𝐵𝐷 𝐴𝐵 𝑃𝐴 × 𝑃𝐵 = 𝑃𝐶 × 𝑃𝐷
    =
    𝐷𝐶 𝐴𝐶

     Similar Triangles: Actively look out for these. One common


    occurrence is the following on the right where one triangle is
    embedded in the other.
    If ∠𝐴𝐵𝐷 = ∠𝐶𝐴𝐷, triangles 𝐴𝐵𝐷 and 𝐴𝐶𝐷 are similar.

     Radii of Circle: Add radii in to points of interest. Obviously, all radii will be the same length.
     Pythagoras! You can often add lines to create right-angled triangles so that you can
    subsequently exploit Pythagoras Theorem. If ever in doubt, form a right-angled triangle. 

    It’s worthwhile memorising this table: (don’t faff about drawing ‘magic triangles’ each time to work
    these out – you should know these off-hand)

    45° 30° 60°


    sin 1 1 √3
    √2 2 2
    cos 1 √3 1
    √2 2 2
    tan 1 1 √3
    √3

    www.drfrostmaths.com/rzc

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