Circle Theorem Past Papers

1. The diagram below, not drawn to scale, shows a circle

with centre, O. EA and EB are tangents to the circle, and
angle AEB = 48°

Calculate, giving reasons for your answer, the size of EACH

of the following angles:
i. ∠𝑂𝐴𝐸
ii. ∠𝐴𝑂𝐵
iii. ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵
iv. ∠𝐴𝐷𝐵
 Solution:
(i) ∠𝑂𝐴𝐸 is the angle between the tangent EA and radius OA,
hence, it is 90°.

(ii) Quadrilateral AOBE contains 4 angles that add up to 360°.

∠𝑂𝐴𝐸 = ∠𝑂𝐵𝐸 = 90° (𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛)
∠𝐴𝑂𝐵 = 360° − (90° + 90° + 48°) = 360° − 228° = 132°

(iii) ∠𝐴𝑂𝐵 is the angle at the centre of the circle that arc AB
subtends, and it is twice the size of the angle that subtends to
the circumference, which is ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵.
1
∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = (132°) = 66°
2

(iv) Opposite angles of cyclic quadrilateral ACBD are

supplementary. Hence, ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 + ∠𝐴𝐷𝐵 = 180°
∠𝐴𝐷𝐵 = 180° − 66° = 114°
2. In the diagram below, not drawn to scale, W, X, Y and Z
are points on the circumference of a circle, centre O.
TYV is a tangent to the circle at Y, ∠𝑋𝑊𝑍 = 64° and
∠𝑍𝑌𝑉 = 23°

Calculate, giving reasons for your answer, the measure of

angles
I. XYZ
II. YXZ
III. OXZ
Solution:

(i) Opposite angles of cyclic quadrilateral WXYZ are

supplementary.
∠𝑋𝑌𝑍 = 180° − ∠𝑋𝑊𝑍 = 180° − 64° = 116°

(ii) The angle made by chord YZ and the tangent YV at

point Y is equal to the angle in the alternate segment,
which is ∠𝑌𝑋𝑍 = 23°

(iii) ∠𝑋𝑂𝑍 subtended at the centre of the circle from arc XZ is

twice the size of the angle subtended at the circumference.
Hence, ∠𝑋𝑂𝑍 = 2(∠𝑋𝑊𝑍) = 2(64°) = 128°
Triangle XOZ is isosceles, hence the two base angles will
be equal, all 3 angles within a triangle add up to 180°.
180° − 128°
∠𝑂𝑋𝑍 = = 26°
2
3. The diagram below not drawn to scale, shows a circle,
centre O. EH and EF are tangents to the circle. FOG and
JOH are straight lines.
The measure of ∠𝐹𝐸𝐻 = 44°

Calculate, giving reasons for your answer, the measure of

I. ∠𝐸𝐻𝐹
II. ∠𝐹𝐺𝐻
III. ∠ 𝐽𝐻𝐸
IV. ∠ 𝐽𝐺𝐻
Solution:

(i) Tangents EH and EF are equal, hence triangle EHF is an

isosceles triangle, so the base angles will be equal.
180° − 44°
∠𝐸𝐻𝐹 = = 68°
2

(ii) The angle between chord FH and tangent EF at point F

(∠𝐸𝐹𝐻) is equal to the angle in the alternate segment.
Hence, ∠𝐸𝐹𝐻 = ∠𝐹𝐺𝐻 = 68°

(iii) ∠𝐽𝐻𝐸 is the angle between the tangent EH and diameter

JH, hence ∠𝐽𝐻𝐸 = 90°.

(iv) ∠𝐽𝐺𝐻 is the angle at the circumference subtended by

diameter JH, hence ∠𝐽𝐺𝐻 = 90°
4. The diagram below, not drawn to scale, shows a circle with
centre O. The vertices H, J, K and L of a quadrilateral lie on
the circumference of the circle and PKM is a tangent to the
circle at K. The measure of ∠𝐻𝐽𝐿 = 20° and ∠𝐽𝐾𝐻 = 50°.

Calculate, giving reasons for each step of your answer, the

measure of
i. ∠𝐻𝐾𝐿
ii. ∠𝐽𝑂𝐾
iii. ∠𝐽𝐻𝐾
Solution:

(i) ∠𝐻𝐾𝐿 = ∠𝐻𝐽𝐿 because the angles at the circumference

subtended by the chord HL are equal
∠𝐻𝐾𝐿 = 20°

(ii) Triangle JOK is isosceles, so the base angles are equal.

∠𝐽𝑂𝐾 = 180° − (50° + 50°) = 80°

(iii) ∠𝐽𝐾𝑃 = 90° − 50° = 40°

(Tangent PK makes a 90° with diameter HK)
∠𝐽𝐾𝑃 is the angle between chord JK and tangent PK and
equal to the angle in the alternate segment (∠𝐽𝐻𝐾).
∠𝐽𝐾𝐻 = 40°
5. The diagram below, not drawn to scale, shows a circle with
centre O. The points A, B, C and D are on the circumference
of the circle EAF and EDG are tangents to the circle at A and D
respectively. ∠𝐴𝑂𝐷 = 114° 𝐶𝐷𝐺 = 18°

Calculate, giving reasons for EACH step of your answer, the

measure of

i. ∠𝐴𝐶𝐷
ii. ∠𝐴𝐸𝐷
iii. ∠𝑂𝐴𝐶
iv. ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶
Solution:

(i) ∠𝐴𝑂𝐷 is the angle at the centre subtended by arc AD is twice

the size of the angle subtended at the circumference.
1 1
∠𝐴𝐶𝐷 = ∠𝐴𝑂𝐷 = (114°) = 57°
2 2

(ii) Triangle AOD is isosceles, so base angles will be equal.

180° − 114°
∠𝑂𝐷𝐴 = = 33°
2

∠𝐸𝐷𝐴 = 90° − 33° = 57°

From point E, tangents EA and ED are equal and make 90°
with radii. Hence, triangle AED is isosceles.
∠𝐴𝐸𝐷 = 180° − (57° + 57°) = 66°

(iii) The angle between chord CD and tangent GD (∠𝐶𝐷𝐺), which

is 18°, is equal to the angle in the alternate segment, ∠𝐶𝐴𝐷.
∠𝑂𝐴𝐶 = ∠𝑂𝐴𝐷 − ∠𝐶𝐴𝐷 = 33° − 18° = 15°

(iv) ∠𝐶𝐷𝐴 = ∠𝐶𝐷𝑂 + ∠𝑂𝐷𝐴 = (90° − 18°) + 33° = 105°

Opposite angles in cyclic quadrilateral are supplementary.
∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 = 180° − ∠𝐶𝐷𝐴 = 180° − 105° = 75°
6. The diagram below, not drawn to scale, shows a circle. The
points P, Q, R, T and V are on the circumference. QRS is a straight
line. ∠𝑃𝑉𝑅 = 75° 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∠𝑇𝑅𝑆 = 60°

Determine the value of EACH of the following angles. Show

detailed working where necessary and give a reason to support
your answer.
I. ∠𝑃𝑇𝑅
II. ∠𝑇𝑃𝑄
III. 𝑂𝑏𝑡𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 ∠𝑃𝑂𝑅, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑂 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒
Solution:

(i) ∠𝑃𝑇𝑅 = ∠𝑃𝑉𝑅 = 75°

Reason: both angles are subtended by arc PR at the
circumference and are, therefore, equal.

(ii) The exterior angle ∠𝑇𝑅𝑆 is equal to the opposite interior

angle of cyclic quadrilateral PQRT.
Hence, ∠𝑇𝑃𝑄 = ∠𝑇𝑅𝑆 = 60°

(iii) ∠𝑃𝑂𝑅 subtended by arc PR at the centre is equal to twice

the angle subtended at the circumference.
∠𝑃𝑂𝑅 = 2(∠𝑃𝑉𝑅) = 2(75°) = 150°