Circle

Properties

Part I

A circle is a set of all points in a plane

that are the same distance from a
fixed point in a plane

The set of points form theCircumferenc

e

The line joining the centre of a circle and a

point on the circumference is called
Radius
the.

chord is a straight line segment

A
joining two points on the circle

A chord that passes through the

centre
is a
diamete
r
.

secant
A
is a straight line
that cuts the circle in two points

An arc is part of the circumference of a

circle
Major
arc

Minor
arc

sector
A is
part of the circle
bounded by two radii and an arc
major
sector

Minor
sector

segmen
A is
part of the circle
t by a chord and an arc
bounded

major
segmen
t
Minor
segment

The arc AB subtends an angle of at the

centre of the circle.
Subtends means to extend under or to
be opposite to

Instructions:
Draw a circle
Draw two chords of equal length
Measure angles AOB and DOC
B

O
A
C
D

What do you notice?

Equal chords subtend equal angles at the centre

Conversely
Equal angles at the centre of a circle stand on equal
arcs

Instructions:
select an arc AB
subtend the arc AB to the centre O
subtend the arc AB to a point C on the
circumference
C
Measure angles AOB and ACB

What do you notice?

Instructions:
select an arc AB
subtend the arc AB to the centre O
subtend the arc AB to a point C on the
circumference
C
Measure angles AOB and ACB

What do you notice?

The angle that an arc of a circle

subtends at the centre is twice the
angle it subtends at the
circumference

Instructions:
select an arc AB
select two points C, D on the circumference
subtend the arc AB to a point C on the
circumference
subtend the arc AB to a point D on the circumference
Measure angles ACB and ADB C

A
B

Instructions:
select an arc AB
select two points C, D on the circumference
subtend the arc AB to a point C on the
circumference
subtend the arc AB to a point D on the circumference

Measure angles ACB and ADB C

A
What do you notice?
B

Angles subtended at the circumference

by the same arc are equal

Instructions:
Draw a circle and its diameter
subtend the diameter to a point on the
circumference
Measure

ACB

What do you notice?

An angle in a
semicircle is a right
angle

Instructions:
Draw a cyclic quadrilateral (the vertices of the
quadrilateral lie on the circumference
Measure all four angles

What do you notice?

The opposite angles of a cyclic

quadrilateral are supplementary

180-

180-

If the opposite angles of a quadrilateral are

supplementary the quadrilateral is cyclic

180-

Instructions:
Draw a cyclic quadrilateral
Produce a side of the quadrilateral
Measure angles and

If a side of a cyclic quadrilateral is

produced, the exterior angle is equal to
the interior opposite angle

Circle
Properties

Part II

tangent properties

A tangent to a circle is a straight line that touches

the circle in one point only

Tangent to a circleis perpendicular to

radius drawn fromthe
the point of contact.

Tangents to a circlefrom an exterior

point

are equal

When two circles touch,

the line through their
centres
passes through their point of contact

External Contact
Point of contact

When two circles touch,

the line through their
centres
passes through their point of contact

Internal Contact

Point of contact

The angle between a

tangent
and a chord through the point of
contact
is equal to the angle in the alternate
segment

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

B
C
D

B=external
point

BA2=BC.BD

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

Note: B is the crucial point in the formula

B
C
D

BA2=BC.BD

Circle
Properties

Chord properties

Triangle AXD is similar to triangle

CXB hence
C
A

X
D
B

AX.XB=CX.X

Note: X is the crucial point in the formula

C
A

X
D
B

AX.XB=CX.X

Chord AB and CD intersect at X

Prove AX.XB=CX.XD

In AXD and CXB

AXD = CXB

(Vertically Opposite
Angles)

DAX = BCX

(Angles standing on same

arc)

X
ADX = CBX
D

(Angles standing on same

arc)

AXD CXB
Hence

AX CX

XD XB

AX . XB CX . XD

(Equiangular )

AAA test for similar

triangles

A perpendicular line from the centre off a circle

to a chord bisects the chord

Conversley: A line from the centre of a circle that

bisects a chord is perpendicular to the chord

Equal chords are equidistant from the centre of the

circle

Conversley: Chords that are equidistant from the

centre are equal

Quick
Quiz

40

a= 40

40

C
b

b= 80

d
60
C

d= 120

f= 55

55
C

m=62
62
C
m

e= 90
C

12 cm

x= 12
102
C
102

x cm

C
70

k= 35

a= 50

120

10

x= 50

C
100

y= 55

y
C
35

Quick
Quiz

Which quadrilateral is
concyclic?

A
105

75

answer=A

110

C
100

20

140

c =60

60
C

ent
g
n
a
T

nt
e
g
Tan
g

g= 90
C

Tangent

4c
m
h

cm

h= 4
Tangent

m =50

y =50

40
m

nt
e
g
n
a
T

50

a= 65
C

a
R

PQ, RQ are
tangents

10

n= 5

n
C

nx8=4x1
0

8n =40

q= 25
C

4q=10

4q=100
4
10

q=25

BA =BC.BD

x= 12
2

4(4+x)=8
C

4(4+x)=64

4
8

4+x=16
x=12

k= 5
3m

8m

K2=32+42
k

K =5