NYMC HSA+ POWER OF A POINT

Prove the following (Each case is its own proof):  

For a given point and a circle, the product of the lengths of the two segments from
the point to the circle is constant along any line through the point and the circle.

§ Case 1: The point is located inside the circle.

§ Case 2: Two tangents meet outside the circle.
§ Case 3: Two secants meet outside the circle.
§ Case 4: A secant and a tangent meet outside the circle.

1. E, L, A, and H are points on a circle and the chords 𝐸𝐿 and 𝐴𝐻 intersect at an interior point, P.
If EP = 4, LP = 5m + 1, AP = 8, and HP = 17 – 3m, what is the value of m?
2. G, R, A, and D are points on a circle and the chords 𝐺𝑅 and 𝐴𝐷 intersect at an interior point, Y.
If GY = 6, RY = 14 - n, AY = 8, and DY = 5n - 1, what is the value of n?
3. A, E, G, and U are points on a circle and the chords 𝐴𝐸 and 𝐺𝑈 intersect at an interior point, S.
If AS = 2p - 9, ES = 28, GS = 24 - p, and US = 22, what is the value of p?
4. J, O, R, and G are points on a circle and the secants 𝐽𝑂 and 𝑅𝐺 intersect at an exterior point, E.
If EO = 7, EJ = q, ER = 6, and EG = 14, what is the value of q?
5. Find x. 6. Find x. 7. Find x.

8. Find x. 9. Find x. 10. Find x.

11. Find x. 12. Find x. 13. Find x.

NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE THEOREMS CODE BREAKER

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
93° 72° 121° 85° 77° 90° 46° 129° 65° 43° 167° 59° 87°

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
108° 71° 43° 107° 114° 36° 67° 13° 56° 60° 52° 101° 180°
Calculate the size of angle 𝒙. The centre of each circle is Point O. Assume no angles are drawn to scale.
Link your answers to the table above to reveal why the archaeologist was upset about their career.
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS IN GEOMETRY

NUMERICAL EXERCISES

4-9 A diameter 𝐶𝐷 of a circle is extended through D to external point P. The

measure of secant 𝐶𝑃 is 77. From P, another secant is drawn intersecting the
circle first at A, then at B. The measure of secant 𝑃𝐵 is 33. The diameter of
the circle measures 74. Find the measure of the angle formed by the secants.

4-9 CHALLENGE
Find the measure of the shorter secant if the measure of the angle between
the secants is 45.

4-16 ABCD is a quadrilateral inscribed in a circle. Diagonal 𝐵𝐷  bisects 𝐴𝐶.

If AB = 10, AD = 12, and DC = 11, find BC.

4-16 CHALLENGE
Solve the problem (find BC) when diagonal 𝐵𝐷 divides 𝐴𝐶 into two segments,
one of which is twice as long as the other.

4-29 𝐴𝐵 is a diameter of circle O. Two circles are

drawn with 𝐴𝑂 and 𝑂𝐵 as diameters. In the
region between the circumferences, a circle D
is inscribed, tangent to the three previous
circles. If the measure of the radius of circle D
is 8, find AB.  

4-29 CHALLENGE
Prove that the area of the shaded region equals the area of circle E.
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS IN GEOMETRY

PROOF-WRITING EXERCISES

4-4 Chords 𝐴𝐶 and 𝐷𝐵 are perpendicular to each other

and intersect at point G. In △AGD the altitude from
G meets 𝐴𝐷 at E, and when extended meets 𝐵𝐶 at P.
Prove that 𝐵𝑃 = 𝑃𝐶.  

4-4 CHALLENGE
One converse of this theorem is as follows. Chords 𝐴𝐶 and 𝐷𝐵 intersect at point
G. In △AGD the altitude from G meets 𝐴𝐷 at E, and when extended meets 𝐵𝐶
at P so that 𝐵𝑃 = 𝑃𝐶. Prove that 𝐴𝐶 ⊥   𝐵𝐷.

4-39 If equilateral triangle △ABC is inscribed in a circle, and a point P is chosen on

minor arc 𝐴𝐶, prove that 𝑃𝐵 = 𝑃𝐴 + 𝑃𝐶.

4-24 Two equal circles are tangent externally at T. Chord 𝑇𝑀 in circle O is

perpendicular to chord 𝑇𝑁 in circle Q. Prove that 𝑀𝑁 ∥ 𝑂𝑄 and 𝑀𝑁 = 𝑂𝑄.

4-24 CHALLENGE
Show that 𝑀𝑁 = 2(𝑅 ! + 𝑟 ! ) if the circles are unequal, where R and r are the
radii of the two circles.

4-32 Three circles intersect. Each pair of circles has a common chord. Prove that
these three chords are concurrent.

4-32 CHALLENGE
Investigate the situation in which one circle is externally tangent to each of
two intersecting circles.
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS IN GEOMETRY

POSTULATES, THEOREMS, AND DEFINITIONS

5 If a triangle has two congruent sides, then the triangle has two congruent angles
opposite those sides. Also the converse.

11 If a pair of consecutive interior angles formed by a transversal of two lines are

supplementary, then the lines are parallel. Also the converse.

14 The acute angles of a right triangle are complementary.

22 A quadrilateral is a parallelogram if a pair of opposite sides is both congruent and

parallel.

30 A line perpendicular to a chord of a circle and containing the center of the circle
bisects the chord and its major and minor arcs.

36 The measure of an inscribed angle equals one-half the measure of its intercepted arc.

38 The measure of an angle whose vertex is on the circle and whose sides are formed by
a chord and a tangent line is equal to one-half the measure of the intercepted arc.

52 If two chords of a circle intersect, the product of the measures of the segments of
one chord equals the product of the segments of the other chord.

54 If two secants intersect outside the circle, the product of the measures of one secant
and its external segment equals the product of the measures of the other secant and
its external segment.

55 The Pythagorean Theorem – In a right triangle the sum of the squares of the measures
of the legs equals the square of the measure of the hypotenuse. Also the converse.
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS IN GEOMETRY

HINTS AND TIPS

4-4 Show that △GPB is isosceles.  

4-9 From the center of the circle, draw a perpendicular to

the secant of measure 33. Then consider Theorem 54.  

4-16 Prove △BEC ~ △AED

and △AEB ~ △DEC.
E is the intersection of the diagonals.  

4-24 Draw 𝑀𝑂, 𝑁𝑄 and the common internal

tangent. Show that quadrilateral MNQO is a
parallelogram.  

4-29 Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to △DEO.

E is the midpoint of 𝐴𝑂.  

4-32 Use an indirect method (proof by contradiction).

Assume the third common chord is not
concurrent with the other two.  

4-39 Choose a point Q on 𝐵𝑃 such that 𝑃𝑄 = 𝑄𝐶.

Prove △BQC ≅ △APC.
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS IN GEOMETRY

SOLUTIONS

 
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS IN GEOMETRY

SOLUTIONS
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS IN GEOMETRY

SOLUTIONS
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS IN GEOMETRY

SOLUTIONS
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS IN GEOMETRY

SOLUTIONS

 
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS IN GEOMETRY

SOLUTIONS

 
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING

CHALLENGING PROBLEMS IN GEOMETRY

SOLUTIONS

 
NYMC HSA+ CIRCLE PROBLEM SOLVING
CIRCLE THEOREMS