Circle theorems

A LEVEL LINKS
Scheme of work: 2b. Circles – equation of a circle, geometric problems on a grid

Key points
• A chord is a straight line joining two points on
the circumference of a circle.
So AB is a chord.

• A tangent is a straight line that touches the

circumference of a circle at only one point.
The angle between a tangent and the radius is 90°.

• Two tangents on a circle that meet at a point

outside the circle are equal in length.
So AC = BC.

• The angle in a semicircle is a right angle.

So angle ABC = 90°.

• When two angles are subtended by the same arc,

the angle at the centre of a circle is twice the
angle at the circumference.
So angle AOB = 2 × angle ACB.

• Angles subtended by the same arc at the

circumference are equal. This means that angles
in the same segment are equal.
So angle ACB = angle ADB and
 angle CAD = angle CBD.

• A cyclic quadrilateral is a quadrilateral with all

four vertices on the circumference of a circle.
Opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral total 180°.
So x + y = 180° and p + q = 180°.

• The angle between a tangent and chord is equal

to the angle in the alternate segment, this is
known as the alternate segment theorem.
So angle BAT = angle ACB.

Examples
Example 1 Work out the size of each angle
marked with a letter.
Give reasons for your answers.

Angle a = 360° − 92° 1 The angles in a full turn total 360°.

= 268°
as the angles in a full turn total 360°.

Angle b = 268° ÷ 2 2 Angles a and b are subtended by

= 134° the same arc, so angle b is half of
as when two angles are subtended by the angle a.
same arc, the angle at the centre of a
circle is twice the angle at the
circumference.

Example 2 Work out the size of the angles in the triangle.

Give reasons for your answers.
 Angles are 90°, 2c and c. 1 The angle in a semicircle is a right
angle.
90° + 2c + c = 180° 2 Angles in a triangle total 180°.
90° + 3c = 180° 3 Simplify and solve the equation.
3c = 90°
c = 30°
2c = 60°

The angles are 30°, 60° and 90° as the

angle in a semi-circle is a right angle
and the angles in a triangle total 180°.

Example 3 Work out the size of each angle marked with a letter.
Give reasons for your answers.

Angle d = 55° as angles subtended by 1 Angles subtended by the same arc

the same arc are equal. are equal so angle 55° and angle d
are equal.
Angle e = 28° as angles subtended by 2 Angles subtended by the same arc
the same arc are equal. are equal so angle 28° and angle e
are equal.

Example 4 Work out the size of each angle marked with a letter.
Give reasons for your answers.

Angle f = 180° − 94° 1 Opposite angles in a cyclic

= 86° quadrilateral total 180° so angle 94°
as opposite angles in a cyclic and angle f total 180°.
quadrilateral total 180°.

(continued on next page)

 Angle g = 180° − 86° 2 Angles on a straight line total 180°
= 84° so angle f and angle g total 180°.
as angles on a straight line total 180°.

Angle h = angle f = 86° as angles 3 Angles subtended by the same arc

subtended by the same arc are equal. are equal so angle f and angle h are
equal.

Example 5 Work out the size of each angle marked with a letter.
Give reasons for your answers.

Angle i = 53° because of the alternate 1 The angle between a tangent and
segment theorem. chord is equal to the angle in the
alternate segment.
Angle j = 53° because it is the alternate 2 As there are two parallel lines, angle
angle to 53°. 53° is equal to angle j because they
are alternate angles.
Angle k = 180° − 53° − 53° 3 The angles in a triangle total 180°,
= 74° so i + j + k = 180°.
as angles in a triangle total 180°.

Example 6 XZ and YZ are two tangents to a circle with centre O.

Prove that triangles XZO and YZO are congruent.

Angle OXZ = 90° and angle OYZ = 90° For two triangles to be congruent you
as the angles in a semicircle are right need to show one of the following.
angles.
• All three corresponding sides are
equal (SSS).
OZ is a common line and is the
hypotenuse in both triangles. • Two corresponding sides and the
included angle are equal (SAS).
OX = OY as they are radii of the same • One side and two corresponding
circle. angles are equal (ASA).

So triangles XZO and YZO are • A right angle, hypotenuse and a

congruent, RHS. shorter side are equal (RHS).
Practice
1 Work out the size of each angle marked with a letter.
Give reasons for your answers.
a b

c d

2 Work out the size of each angle marked with a letter.

Give reasons for your answers.
a b
 c
Hint
The reflex angle at point O and
angle g are subtended by the
same arc. So the reflex angle is
twice the size of angle g.

d
Hint

Angle 18° and angle h are

subtended by the same arc.

3 Work out the size of each angle marked with a letter.

Give reasons for your answers.
a b
Hint
One of the angles is
in a semicircle.

c d
4 Work out the size of each angle marked with a letter.
Give reasons for your answers.
a
Hint
An exterior angle of a
cyclic quadrilateral is
equal to the opposite
interior angle.

b c

Hint

One of the angles

is in a semicircle.

Extend
5 Prove the alternate segment theorem.
Answers
1 a a = 112°, angle OAP = angle OBP = 90° and angles in a quadrilateral total 360°.
b b = 66°, triangle OAB is isosceles, Angle OAP = 90° as AP is tangent to the circle.
c c = 126°, triangle OAB is isosceles.
d = 63°, Angle OBP = 90° as BP is tangent to the circle.
d e = 44°, the triangle is isosceles, so angles e and angle OBA are equal. The angle OBP = 90°
as BP is tangent to the circle.
f = 92°, the triangle is isosceles.
e g = 62°, triangle ABP is isosceles as AP and BP are both tangents to the circle.
h = 28°, the angle OBP = 90°.

2 a a = 130°, angles in a full turn total 360°.

b = 65°, the angle at the centre of a circle is twice the angle at the circumference.
c = 115°, opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral total 180°.
b d = 36°, isosceles triangle.
e = 108°, angles in a triangle total 180°.
f = 54°, angle in a semicircle is 90°.
c g = 127°, angles at a full turn total 360°, the angle at the centre of a circle is twice the angle
at the circumference.
d h = 36°, the angle at the centre of a circle is twice the angle at the circumference.

3 a a = 25°, angles in the same segment are equal.

b = 45°, angles in the same segment are equal.
b c = 44°, angles in the same segment are equal.
d = 46°, the angle in a semicircle is 90° and the angles in a triangle total 180°.
c e = 48°, the angle at the centre of a circle is twice the angle at the circumference.
f = 48°, angles in the same segment are equal.
d g = 100°, angles at a full turn total 360°, the angle at the centre of a circle is twice the angle
at the circumference.
h = 100°, angles in the same segment are equal.

4 a a = 75°, opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral total 180°.

b = 105°, angles on a straight line total 180°.
c = 94°, opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral total 180°.
b d = 92°, opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral total 180°.
e = 88°, angles on a straight line total 180°.
f = 92°, angles in the same segment are equal.
c h = 80°, alternate segment theorem.
d g = 35°, alternate segment theorem and the angle in a semicircle is 90°.
5 Angle BAT = x.
Angle OAB = 90° − x because the angle between
the tangent and the radius is 90°.
OA = OB because radii are equal.
Angle OAB = angle OBA because the base of
isosceles triangles are equal.
Angle AOB = 180° − (90° − x) − (90° − x) = 2x
because angles in a triangle total 180°.
Angle ACB = 2x ÷ 2 = x because the angle at the
centre is twice the angle at the circumference.