Illustrated vocabulary and concepts of Circle Geometry

Illustrated Vocabulary
Chorda line segment that has both of its
endpoints on the circle

Inscribed Anglean angle formed by two chords

that meet at one endpoint.
Inscribed angle EFG

Chord RS

Central Anglean angle formed by two radii (plural of radius) in a circle. An angle from the centre of
the circle.
Angle AOC is a
Central Angle

Arca piece of the circumference. Major arc: more than a semicircle; minor arc less than a semicircle.
Major arc

Minor arc

Subtendto be opposite to, and to outline the boundaries of. An angle subtends if it stands on the
endpoints of an arc or a chord.

Angle COB is subtended by Arc CB; or

Arc CB subtends Angle COB.

Notationidentical markings on angles or sides indicate equality.

Supplementary anglestwo angles with measures whose sum (+) is 180.

Supplementary Angles
Example:
148 + 32 = 180

Complementary anglestwo angles with measures whose sum (+) is 90.

Complimentary Angles
Example
55 + 35 = 90

Theta the Greek letter theta is often used to indicate the measure of an unknown angle.

Isosceles Trianglea triangle with two congruent legsbase angles are equal.

Acute anglean angle measure greater than 0 and less than 90.

Example:

Acute triangle a triangle whose interior angles each measure less than 90.

Example:

Obtuse anglean angle measure greater than 90 and less than 180.

Example:

Obtuse triangle a triangle with exactly one interior angle that measures more than 90.

Example:

Semicirclehalf a circle.
C
2

Equilateral triangleall sides are equal and all angles are equal (60 each).

Perpendicular bisectora line that divides a line segment in half and is at right angles to it.

Tangent (of a circle)a line that touches a circle at exactly one point.
Point of tangencythe point where a tangent touches the circle.

Tangent Line

Point of Tangency