Circle

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This article is about the shape and mathematical concept of circle. For list of
topics related to circles, see List of circle topics. For all other uses, see
Circle (disambiguation).

Circle illustration showing a radius, a diameter, the center and the circumference

Tycho crater, one of many examples of circles that arise in nature. NASA photoA
circle is a simple shape of Euclidean geometry consisting of those points in a
plane which are the same distance from a given point called the centre. The common
distance of the points of a circle from its center is called its radius.

Circles are simple closed curves which divide the plane into two regions, an
interior and an exterior. In everyday use, the term "circle" may be used
interchangeably to refer to either the boundary of the figure (known as the
perimeter) or to the whole figure including its interior. However, in strict
technical usage, "circle" refers to the perimeter while the interior of the circle
is called a disk. The circumference of a circle is the perimeter of the circle
(especially when referring to its length).

A circle is a special ellipse in which the two foci are coincident. Circles are
conic sections attained when a right circular cone is intersected with a plane
perpendicular to the axis of the cone.

Contents [hide]
1 Further terminology
2 History
3 Analytic results
3.1 Length of circumference
3.2 Area enclosed
3.3 Equation
3.4 Tangent lines
4 Properties
4.1 Chord properties
4.2 Sagitta properties
4.3 Tangent properties
4.4 Theorems
4.5 Inscribed angles
5 Apollonius circle
5.1 Cross-ratios
5.2 Generalized circles
6 See also
7 Notes This article is about the shape and mathematical concept of circle. For
list of topics related to circles, see List of circle topics. For all other uses,
see Circle (disambiguation).

Circle illustration showing a radius, a diameter, the center and the circumference

Tycho crater, one of many examples of circles that arise in nature. NASA photoA
circle is a simple shape of Euclidean geometry consisting of those points in a
plane which are the same distance from a given point called the centre. The common
distance of the points of a circle from its center is called its radius.

Circles are simple closed curves which divide the plane into two regions, an
interior and an exterior. In everyday use, the term "circle" may be used
interchangeably to refer to either the boundary of the figure (known as the
perimeter) or to the whole figure including its interior. However, in strict
technical usage, "circle" refers to the perimeter while the interior of the circle
is called a disk. The circumference of a circle is the perimeter of the circle
(especially when referring to its length).

A circle is a special ellipse in which the two foci are coincident. Circles are
conic sections attained when a right circular cone is intersected with a plane
perpendicular to the axis of the cone.

Contents [hide]
1 Further terminology
2 History
3 Analytic results
3.1 Length of circumference
3.2 Area enclosed
3.3 Equation
3.4 Tangent lines
4 Properties
4.1 Chord properties
4.2 Sagitta properties
4.3 Tangent properties
4.4 Theorems
4.5 Inscribed angles
5 Apollonius circle
5.1 Cross-ratios
5.2 Generalized circles
6 See also
7 Notes
8 References
8.1 External links

[edit] Further terminology

8 References
8.1 External links