Circles Project

C. Sormani, MTTI, Lehman College, CUNY

MAT631, Fall 2009, Project X

BACKGROUND: General Axioms, Half planes, Isosceles Triangles, Perpendicular Lines, Con-
gruent Triangles, Parallel Postulate and Similar Triangles.
DEFN: A circle of radius R about a point P in a plane is the collection of all points, X, in the
plane such that the distance from X to P is R. That is, C(P, R) = {X : d(X, P ) = R}. Note
that a circle is a well defined notion in any metric space. We say P is the center and R is the
radius. If d(P, Q) < R then we say Q is an interior point of the circle, and if d(P, Q) > R then
Q is an exterior point of the circle.
DEFN: The diameter of a circle C(P, R) is a line segment AB such that A, B ∈ C(P, R) and the
center P ∈ AB. The length AB is also called the diameter.
THEOREM: The diameter of a circle C(P, R) has length 2R.
PROOF: Complete this proof using the definition of a line segment and the betweenness axioms.
DEFN: If A, B ∈ C(P, R) but P ∈
/ AB then AB is called a chord.
THEOREM: A chord of a circle C(P, R) has length < 2R unless it is the diameter.
PROOF: Complete this proof using axioms and the above theorem.
DEFN: A line L is said to be a tangent line to a circle, if L ∩ C(P, R) is a single point, Q. The
point Q is called the point of contact and L is said to be tangent to the circle at Q. If L ∩ C(P, R)
is a pair of points, then L is called a secant.
←→ ←→ ←→
THEOREM: A line, AB, is tangent to a circle C(P, R) at a point Q if and only if AB meets P Q
perpendicularly at Q.
PROOF PART I (Tangent implies Perpendicular):
1) Assume on the contrary, that m(∠AQP ) 6= 90◦ . Without loss of generality we assume < 90◦ .
←→
Our goal now is to show AB is not tangent by finding a second point Q0 which is on the circle and
←→
on the line AB. We can do this by constructing an isosceles triangle:
−−→
2) Let θ = 180 − 2m(∠AQP ) and define a ray P C such that m(∠QP C) = θ and C is in the same
half plane as A. (by the Protractor Postulate)
−−→
3) Let Q0 ∈ P C such that d(P, Q0 ) = R. (by the Ruler Postulate)
Now complete the proof by first showing that triangle ∆P QQ0 is an isosceles triangle, then finding
←→ ←−→ ←→
m(∠P QQ0 ) and finally showing that BA = QQ0 , and concluding that AB is not tangent.
PROOF PART II: (Perpendicular implies Tangent) Prove this by contradiction.

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 Angles and Arc Measure
−−→ −−→
DEFN: Recall that an angle is the union of two rays: ∠ABC = BA ∪ BC and the interior of
←→ ←→
an angle is the region between these rays: Int(∠ABC) = H(A, BC) ∩ H(C, AB) where the half
plane H(P, L) is the collection of all points X that are on the same side of the line L as the point
P is. When B is the center of a circle then ∠ABC is called a central angle of the circle and when
B is a point on the circle, then ∠ABC is called an inscribed angle.
_
DEFN: Given a circle C(P, R) and two points A and B on the circle, the minor arc AB is
C(P, R) ∩ Int(∠AP B). It is called the subtended arc of the central angle ∠AP B. The major
_
arc is the rest of the circle: C(P, R)\Int(∠AP B). It is sometimes also denoted AB. To distinguish
between the two arcs, one can add a third point between the A and the B in the notation.
_
DEFN: The measure of the minor arc is m(AB) = m(∠AP B). The measure of the major arc
_
is just 360◦ −m(AB) Note that the central angle subtending the arc is used to compute its measure.
_
ADDITIVITY OF ARC MEASURE THEOREM: If a point C lies on an arc AB and
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
CB⊂AB and AC⊂AB, then m(AB) = m(CB) + m(AC) The proof of this theorem is a rather
tedious process of checking cases and can be found for example in Kay’s College Geometry page
197. We will skip the proof but you should draw the statement and convince yourself.
THEOREM: If AB is a diameter of circle C(P, R) and Q ∈ C(P, R), then the inscribed angle
∠AQB is a right angle.
PROOF: Add justifications, fill in blanks and draw pictures.
1) P Q = P B = P A = R
2) and are isosceles triangles.
3) θ = m(∠ ) = m(∠ )
and ϕ = m(∠ ) = m(∠ ).
4) θ + θ + = 180◦ , So θ =
and ϕ + ϕ + = 180◦ , So ϕ =
5) m(∠AP Q) + m(∠QP B) = 180◦
6) m(∠AQB) = θ + ϕ = .
_ _
THEOREM: If Q ∈ C(P, R) and Q ∈
/ AB, then m(∠AQB) = m(AB)/2.
PROOF: Prove this by finding isosceles triangles.
_
COROLLARY: If Q, Q0 ∈ C(P, R) and Q, Q0 ∈
/ AB, then m(∠AQ0 B) = m(∠AQB).
PROOF: This very important corollary follows immediately applying the above theorem twice.
Using the theorems in these two pages and this corollary combined with congruent
triangle, isosceles triangle and similar triangle theorems one can rederive all the chord-
arc theorems in Euclidean Geometry without having to memorize them. On the next
page we list all the chord arc theorems on the NYS Regents.

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 Rederiving Theorems
The following theorems are all on the NYS Geometry high school Regents Exam and
can be quite overwhelming if the students try to memorize them. It should also be noted
that memorizing them does not prepare a student for college level mathematics. The
skill being tested here is the ability to rederive the theorems and figure out relationships
given all the Euclidean geometry taught up to this date.
You and your students must know and memorize the theorems on the first two pages of
this project and be familiar with how to work with those theorems and the theorems of
congruent and similar triangles and perpendicular bisectors and isosceles triangles. It
is essential to become quick at marking corresponding angles and lengths and drawing
consequences to answer multiple choice questions and to apply geometry in future
coursework.
Your students may also be asked to prove one of these theorems in a two column proof.
As teachers, you need to recognize any correct proofs.

PERPENDICULAR BISECTORS OF CHORDS: If AB is a chord of of circle C(P, R) and

←→
D is the midpoint, then the perpendicular bisector DQ passes through the center, P . Prove this
←→
in a few lines by showing P D is a perpendicular bisector.
PARALLEL CHORDS THEOREM: If AC and BD are chords of circle C(P, R), that are
_ _
parallel, then AB and CD have the same measure. Give a 2-3 line proof.
←→ ←→
TANGENT-TANGENT LAW: If AB is tangent to circle C(P, R) at B and AC is tangent to
circle C(P, R) at C, then AB = AC. Find two congruent triangles and justify. (Very short).
SECANT-SECANT LAW: If two secants meet at an exterior point then certain lengths are
←→ ←→
proportional. Label the secants AB with A, B ∈ C(P, R) and CD with C, D ∈ C(P, R) and assume
they meet at an exterior point Q. To show some lengths are proportional one needs to show some
triangles are similar, and thus we need to investigate angles: Compare ∠(ABC) to ∠(ADC) using
_
the major and minor arcs AC. So what can one say about ∠QDA? Which triangles are similar?
CHORD-CHORD LAW: If AC and BD are chords of circle C(P, R), and meet at a point Q,
then ∆AQB is similar to ∆DQC and so we have certain proportional lengths. Justify the similarity
using the corollary and write out the proportional lengths. Be very careful because any angle at Q
is neither a center angle nor an inscribed angle..
TANGENT-SECANT ANGLE THEOREM: The angle between a tangent line and a secant
line passing through its point of tangency can be found using the arc created by the secant. Let the
←→ ←→
line AC be tangent to C(P, R) at A and secant AB have B ∈ C(P, R). How is m(∠BAC) related
_
to the measure of AB? Hint: draw AP and BP .
TANGENT-SECANT LAW: If a tangent line and a secant line meet at an exterior point, then
←→
certain lengths are proportional. Label the secant AB with A, B ∈ C(P, R) and the tangent line
←→
ED with D ∈ C(P, R) and assume they meet at an exterior point Q. To show some lengths are
proportional one needs to show some triangles are similar, and thus we need to investigate angles
again. Mark the right angle and any angles which are congruent using the corollary on the last
page, find two similar triangles and complete the proof.

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 Arclengths and Circumference
Recall that the measure of an arc is given in degrees and is equal to the central angle subtending
the arc. It is not the arclength. Here we define the arclength and the circumference and derive
their formulas.
DEFN: The length of a straight line segment is the distance between the endpoints. The length
of a path made up out of line segments is the sum of the lengths of the segments.
REGULAR N-GON: Take a circle C(P, R) and place n points on the circle P1 , P2 , ...Pn evenly
spaced so that m(∠Pi P Pi+1 ) = 360◦ /n. Then d(Pi , Pi+1 ) is the same for every i, so this is a regular
n-gon. Why?. The perimeter of the regular n-gon is the length around the edge:
n
X
S(n) = d(Pj−1 , Pj ) = d(P1 , P2 ) + d(P2 , P3 ) + ... + d(Pn−1 , Pn ).
j=1

How does this length depend on R? That is, if S(n, R) is the perimeter of an n-gon inscribed in a
circle of radius R, what is S(n, R)/S(n, r)? Does S(n, R) depend on the center of the circle?
REGULAR HEXAGON: Take a circle C(P, R) and place 6 points on the circle P1 , P2 , ...P6
evenly spaced so that m(∠Pi P Pi+1 ) = 360◦ /6. What is d(Pi , Pi+1 ) and what is S(6, R)?
DEFN: The length of a smooth curve like the circumference of a circle or an arc, is found by
marking n evenly spaced points Pj and then measuring the sum of their lengths, S(n), and then
taking the limit as n approaches infinity. (There is also a notion of a rectifiable curve which is
defined using infimums).
CIRCUMFERENCE OF A CIRCLE: When we take the limit as n approaches infinity of the
S(n, R) for the regular n-gon we get the formula for the circumference of the circle, Circum(P, R).
Does Circum(P, R) depend on P ? What is Circum(P, R)/Circum(P, r)?
DEFINING PI: The real number π is defined as the ratio of the circumference over the diameter
of a circle: π := Circum(n, R)/(2R). Verify that the definition of π does not depend on the radius
of the circle: Circum(P, R)/(2R) = Circum(P, r)/(2r). The circumference of a circle is then 2πR.
ESTIMATING PI: One can estimate π by taking larger and larger values of n and explicitly
computing S(n, R). Archimedes calulated this is by taking n = 4, 8, 16, 32, ... doubling so that the
formula for each S(2n, R) can be computed using the prior formula S(n, R).
DERIVING ARCLENGTH: The arclength of an arc in a circle can also be computed using
_
limits. Suppose AB is an arc in C(P, R) and m(∠AP B)/360◦ is a rational number p/q. Then we
_
can draw an inscribed q − gon in the circle with p sides having endpoints in the arc AB. The sum of
the p sides approximating the arc is (p/q)S(q, R). (draw this). We can draw an inscribed 2q − gon
_
in the circle with 2p sides having endpoints in the arc AB. The sum of the p sides approximating
the arc is ((2p)/(2q))S(2q, R).(draw this). In fact we can draw an inscribed (mq) − gon in the circle
_
with (mp) sides having endpoints in the arc AB. The sum of the mp sides approximating the arc
is ((mp)/(mq))S(mq, R) = (p/q)S(mq, R). So taking the number of sides to infinity, we see that
the arclength is (p/q)2πR which is (m(∠AP B)/360◦ )2πR.
_
ARCLENGTH: The arclength of a minor arc AB∈ C(P, R) is (m(∠AP B)/360◦ )2πR.
ARCLENGTH PROBLEMS:
(1) What is the arclength of an arc with inscribed angle θ in a circle of radius R?
(2) What is the arclength between a tangent and secant that meet at angle θ?
_
(3) What is the arclength of AB⊂ C(P, R) when the distance from AB to P is r < R?

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