Chapter 5 Basic Properties of Circles

Basic Properties of Circles
5 Contents
(2)
5.1 Tangents to a Circle
5.2 Tangents to a Circle from an External

　 Point
5.3 Angle in the Alternate Segment
5.4 Euclidean Geometry
5 Basic Properties of Circles (2)
5.1 Tangents to a circle
Definition 5.1
A straight line is called a tangent to a circle if and

only if it touches the circle at one and only one point.
For example, in Fig. 5.6, AB is a tangent to the

circle. The point T common to both the circle
and the straight line is called the point of
contact (or the point of tangency). Fig. 5.6
Theorem 5.1
If AB is a tangent to the circle with centre O at

T , then AB is perpendicu lar to the radius OT .
Content Symbolically, AB ⊥ OT .
(Reference: tangent perp. to radius)

Fig. 5.9
P. 2
5.1 Tangents to a circle
Theorem 5.2:
OT is a radius of the circle with centre O and

AB is a straight line that touches the circle at
T . If AB is perpendicu lar to OT , then AB is a
tangent to the circle.
In other words, if AB ⊥ OT , then AB is a tangent
to the circle.
Fig. 5.10
(Reference: converse of tangent perp. to radius)
Content
P. 3
5.2 Tangents to a Circle from an External Point
Theorem 5.3:
In Fig. 5.50, if TA and TB are the two tangents

drawn to the circle with centre O from an external
point T , then
(a) the length of the two tangents are equal, that is,
TA = TB;
(b) the two tangents subtend equal angles at the centre, Fig. 5.50
that is, ∠TOA = ∠TOB;
(c) the line joining the external point to the centre of the circle is the
angle bisector of the angle included by the two tangents lines,
Content
that is, ∠OTA = ∠OTB.
(Reference: tangent properties)
P. 4
In Fig. 5.86, AB is a tangent to the circle at T and PT is a chord of the circle.
∠ PTA and ∠ PTB are formed by the chord and the tangent. ∠ PTA and ∠ PTB
are called tangent-chord angle.
Fig 5.86
The chord PT divides the circle into two segments I and II as shown in Fig. 5.86.
Content Segment II lies on the opposite side of ∠ PTA is called the alternate segment
with respect to ∠ PTA.
Similarly, segment I is called the alternate segment with respect to ∠ PTB.
P. 5
Theorem 5.4:
A tangent-chord angle of a circle is equal to an angle in the alternate segment.
Fig. 5.89 Fig. 5.90
Symbolically, a=b p=q

Content
(Reference : ∠ in alt. segment )
P. 6
Theorem 5.5:
A straight line is drawn through an end point of a

chord of a circle. If the angle between the straight
line and the chord is equal to an angle in alternate
segment, then the straight line is a tangent to the
circle.
In other words, if x = y, then TA is a tangent

to the circle at A. Fig. 5.92
(Reference : converse of ∠ in alt. segment )
Content
P. 7
A. Introduction
Elements is a series of books written in about 300 BC by a very famous
Greek mathematician called Euclid ( 歐幾里得 ) who developed Euclidean
Geometry. Elements consists of 13 books. In these books, Euclid gave a
single deductive chain of 465 propositions neatly and systematically.
Book I of the series is about the fundamentals of

geometry which includes the theories of triangles,
parallels and area. There are 23 necessary basic
definitions, 5 postulates and 5 axioms in this book.
Content
P. 8
(a) Definition
A definition is a statement that requires only an understanding of
the terms being used.
Definition 1:
‘A figure is that which is contained by any boundary or boundaries.’
Content
Fig. 5.128
In Fig. 5.128, ABCD is a figure with four boundaries : AB, BC , CD, DA.
P. 9
Definition 2:
‘A circle is a plane figure contained by one line such that all the straight
lines falling upon it from one point among those lying within the figure
are equal to one another.’
Fig. 5.129
Content Referring to Fig. 5.129,

2. The one line is the circumference of the circle.
3. The particular point is the centre of the circle.
4. The equal length is the radius of the circle.
P. 10
Definition 3:
‘A diameter of the circle is any straight line drawn through the centre and
terminated in both directions by the circumference of the circle, and such
a straight line also bisects the circle.’
Fig. 5.130
Content In Fig. 5.130, AB is a diameter of the circle. AB cuts the circle in two
segments Ι and ΙΙ such that the area of segment Ι equals to the area of
segment ΙΙ.
P. 11
Definition 4:
‘A semicircle is the figure contained by the diameter and the circumference
cut off by it. And the centre of the semicircle is the same as that of the circle.
Fig. 5.131
Content
In Fig. 5.131, we can see that the semicircle and the circle have the same
centre.
P. 12
Definition 5:
‘Of trilateral figures, an equilateral triangle is that which has its three sides
equal, an isosceles triangle has two of its sides alone equal and a scalene
triangle that which has its three sides unequal.’
In Fig. 5.132, ∆ABC is an isosceles triangle.
Content
Fig. 5.132
P. 13
(b) Postulate
A postulate is a statement that is assumed to be true without proof.
The postulates are all specific to the subject matter.
Postulate 1:
‘A straight line can be drawn from any point to any point.’
Fig. 5.133
In Fig. 5.133, we can draw a straight line form A to B.
Postulate 2:
‘A finite straight line can be produced continuously in a straight line.’
Content
Fig. 5.134
In Fig. 5.134, we can extend the straight line from AB to CD.
P. 14
Postulate 3:
‘A circle may be described with any centre and distance.’
Fig 5.135
Postulate 4:
‘All right angles are equal to one another.’
Content
Fig. 5.136
In Fig. 5.136, ∠CDA = ∠GHE = ∠CDB = ∠GHF .
P. 15
Postulate 5:
‘If a straight line falling on two straight lines makes the interior angles on
the same side less than two right angles, the two straight lines, if produced
indefinitely, meet on that side on which the angles are together less than
two right angles.’
Content Fig. 5.137
In Fig. 5.137, if ∠CBE + ∠FEB < 180°, then AC and DF will meet when
they are extended in the direction of C and F .
P. 16
(C) Axiom
An axiom (which Euclid called common notation in his book) is an
assertion, the truth of which is taken for granted as being obvious.
Axiom 1:
‘Things which equal to same thing also equal one another.’
Axiom 2:
‘If equals are added to equals, then the wholes are equal.’
Axiom 3:
‘If equals are subtracted from equals, then the remainders are equal.’
Axiom 4:
Content ‘Things which coincide with one another equal one another.’
Axiom 5:
‘The whole is greater than the part.’
P. 17

Chapter 5 Basic Properties of Circles

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Chapter 5 Basic Properties of Circles

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Basic Properties of Circles

5.1 Tangents to a Circle

5.2 Tangents to a Circle from an External

A straight line is called a tangent to a circle if and

For example, in Fig. 5.6, AB is a tangent to the

If AB is a tangent to the circle with centre O at

(Reference: tangent perp. to radius)

OT is a radius of the circle with centre O and

In Fig. 5.50, if TA and TB are the two tangents

Similarly, segment I is called the alternate segment with respect to ∠ PTB.

A tangent-chord angle of a circle is equal to an angle in the alternate segment.

Fig. 5.89 Fig. 5.90

Symbolically, a=b p=q

A straight line is drawn through an end point of a

In other words, if x = y, then TA is a tangent

(Reference : converse of ∠ in alt. segment )

Book I of the series is about the fundamentals of

Content Referring to Fig. 5.129,

In Fig. 5.132, ∆ABC is an isosceles triangle.

In Fig. 5.133, we can draw a straight line form A to B.

In Fig. 5.134, we can extend the straight line from AB to CD.

Content Fig. 5.137

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