Geometrical properties of circles

What will learn in this chapter

• What symmetric and angle properties circles have
• How to apply symmetric and angle properties of circles so solve
problems
Symmetric properties of circles
Circle symmetric property 1 (Perpendicular
bisector of a chord)
i) if a line l passes through the centre of a circle and is perpendicular to
a chord AB (which is not the diameter) of the circle, then the line l
bisects the chord AB
l

equal
A
ii) if a line l passes through the centre of a circle and bisects AB (which
is not the diameter) of the circle, then the line l is perpendicular to the
chord AB.

O
PERPENDICULAR

equal
A
iii) if a line l bisects the chord AB of a circle and is perpendicular to the
chord AB (i.e. l is the perpendicular bisector of the chord AB) then the
line l passes through the centre of the circle.

PASSES THROUGH
l THE CENTRE

O
PERPENDICULAR

equal
A
PM = 12 cm OP = 169
OP2 = OM2 + PM2 = 13 cm
OP2 = 52 + 122
OP2 = 25 + 144
OP2 = 169
OA = 7cm
AX2 = OA2 – OX2
AX2 = 72 – 32
AX2 = 49 – 9
AX2 = 40
AX = 40
AX = 2 10
Ex 1
In the figure, PQ and XY are Chords of the circle with centre O, The point M lies on PQ such
that OM is perpendicular to PQ and the point N lies on XY such that ON is perpendicular ton
PQ. Given that XY = 26 cm, OM = 8 cm and ON = 3 cm, find the length of the chord PQ,
giving your answer correct to 2 decimal places
Solution
𝑂𝑋 2 = 𝑂𝑁 2 + 𝑁𝑋 2
= 32 + 132
= 9 + 169
=178
𝑃𝑀2 = 𝑂𝑃2 − 𝑂𝑀2
= 178 − 82 , OP = OX = radius of circle
= 178 − 64
= 114
𝑃𝑀 = 114
𝑃𝑄 = 2 114
Circle symmetric property 2 ( Equal chords)
i) Equal chords of a circle are equidistant from the centre of the circle

EQUAL

EQUAL
Circle symmetric property 2
ii) Chord that are equidistant from the centre of a circle are equal (in length)

EQUAL

EQUAL
Ex 2
the figure shows a circle with centre O and radius 7 cm. The chords AB and PQ have lengths
11 cm and 13 cm respectively, and intersect at right angles at X. Find the length of OX?

Solution 𝑂𝑋 2 = 𝑂𝐸 2 + 𝑂𝐷2
𝑂𝐸 2 = 𝑂𝑃2 − 𝑃𝐸 2 = 6.75 + 18.75
= 72 − 6.52 = 25.5
= 49 − 42.25 𝑂𝑋 = 25.5
E = 6.75
𝑂𝐷2 = 𝑂𝐴2 − 𝐴𝐷2
= 72 − 5.52
D = 49 − 30.25
= 18.75
Circle symmetric property 3
The tangent at the point of contact is perpendicular to the radius of
circle

O
Circle symmetric property 4
i) Tangents from external point are equal ( in length )

EQUAL P
LENGTH O
The line from the centre of a circle to an external points bisects the
angle between the two tangents from externalpoint.

P
O
Ex
In the figure, PA is a tangent to the circle, centre O
Given that PA = 10.5 cm and OA = 4.5 cm, find
i) the length of OP
ii) the area of OPA
Solution
OP= 10.52 + 4.52
= 110.25 + 20.25
= 130.5
1
Area of OPA = × 10.5 × 4.5
2
= 23.625
Excercise
• 11A page 199
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