GIKPKC7 94107 Circle Geometry Page 1

Parts of the Circle

4/5/98
Terms:
Tangent Minor Segment

Centre

Sector Arc
Major Segment
Radius
Diameter

Semi-Circle Half a circle

Concentric Circles that have the same centre
Tangent Touches the circumference at one point
Concyclic Points that set on the circumference

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Properties
4/5/98
A perpendicular line drawn to a chord from the centre of a circle
bisects the chord, and the perpendicular bisector of a chord passes
through the centre.  AD = DB
(OD bisects AB)

Proof:
ADO = BDO = 90 (Given)
OA = OB (Equal radii)
OD is common
 OAD  OBD (RHS)
 AD = BD (Corresponding sides in congruent ’s)
So, OD bisects AB

The line from the centre of a circle to the midpoint of a chord

meets the chord at right angles.
(OD  AB)

Proof:
ADO = BDO = 90 (Given)
OA = OB (Equal radii)
OD is common
 OAD  OBD (RHS)
 AD = BD (Corresponding sides in congruent ’s)
So, OD bisects AB

Equal chords of a circle are the same distance from the centre and
subtend equal angles at the centre.
AOB = COD EO = FO
(Chords equal when equidistant from the centre)

Proof:
Let, CD = AB
OEB = OFD = 90 (Given)
OB = OD (Equal radii)
AB = CD (Given)
BE = ½.AB (OE bisects AB)
DF = ½.CD (OF bisects CD)
 BE = DF
 OEB  OFD (RHS)
 OE = OF (Corresponding sides in congruent ’s)

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The angle subtended by an arc (or chord) at the centre of a circle

is double the angle subtended by the arc (or chord) at the
circumference. BOC = 2  BAC
( at centre is twice the  at the circumference)

Proof:
Join AO and produce to D
Let, BAO = x and CAO = y
 BAC = x + y
OA = OB (Equal radii)
 OBA = x (Base ’s of isosceles )
= BAO
OA = OC
 OCA = y (Base ’s of isosceles )
= CAO
BOD = x + x (External  of OBA)
= 2.x
COD = y + y (External  of OBA)
= 2.y
BOC = BOD + COD
= 2.x + 2.y
= 2(x + y)
= 2.BAC

Angles subtended at the circumference by the same or equal arcs

(or chords) are equal. ABD = ACD
( in the same segment)

Proof:
Join A and D to centre O
AOD = 2.ABD ( at centre is twice the  at the
.AOD = 2.ACD circumference)
 ABD = ACD

Any angle (to the circumference of a circle) in a semi-circle is a

right angle. ACB = 90°
( at centre is twice the  at the circumference)

Proof:
AOB = 180 (Straight  )
AOB = 2.ACB ( at centre is twice the  at the
circumference)
 ACB = 90

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Opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral are supplementary.

ABC + ADC = 180°
BAD + DCB = 180°
(Cyclic opposite ’s)

Proof:
Join B and D to O (centre)
Obtuse DOB = 2.BAD ( at centre is twice the  at the
Reflex DOB = 2.BCD circumference)
DOB + DOB = 360° ( of revolution)
 2.BAD + 2.BCD = 360°
 BAD + BCD = 180°
Similarly, it can be proven that  CBA +  CDA = 180° by
joining A and C to O (Centre).

An angle formed by a tangent to a circle with a chord drawn to

he point of contact is equal to any angle in the alternate segment.
(Corresponding opposite ’s)

Proof:
Draw in diameter CF and join EF
Let, ECB = x
FCB = 90° (Tangent  radius)
 FCE = 90°  x
FEC = 90° ( in semicircle)
 EFC = 180°  (90° + 90° – x) ( sum of )
=x
EFC = EDC (’s in same segment)
 EDC = ECB

From any external point B, two equal tangents may be

drawn to a circle. The line joining this point to the
centre is an axis of symmetry. AC = BC OC is an
axis of symmetry.
(Corresponding sides in congruent ’s)

Proof:
Join OB
OAB = OCB = 90° (Tangent  radius)
OB is common
OA = OC (Equal radii)
 OAB  OCB (RHS)
 AB = CB (Corresponding sides in
congruent ’s)

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The size of the angle between a tangent and the radius drawn to
the point of contact is 90°.
(Tangent  radius)

The products of intercepts of intersecting chords are equal. (AE

and EB are the intercepts of the chord AB, CE and ED are
intercepts of the chord CD). lengths AE times EB = length CE
times ED
(Product of intercepts)

Proof:
AED = CEB (Vertically opposite ’s)
DAE = ECB (’s in same segment)
ADE = EBC (Similarly)
 OEB  OFD
AE DE
 
EC EB
 AE  EB = DE  EC

The square of the length of a tangent is equal to the

product of the intercepts of a secant drawn from an
external point (when a chord extends beyond a circle it
is called a secant). (The secant’s intercepts here are SQ
and QR)
(PQ)2 = SQ  QR
(Product of intercepts)

Proof:
QPR = PSR (’s in alternate
segments)
PQR is common
 PQR  SPQ
PQ PR QR
  
QS SP PQ
PQ QR
 
QS PQ
 (PQ)2 = QR  QS

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