Inscribed Angles and

Intercepted Arcs
 An inscribed angle is an angle whose vertex is on a circle and whose
sides contain chords of the circle. The arc that lies in the interior of an
inscribed angle and has endpoints on the angle is the intercepted arc of the
angle.
Examples:
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• • • C
P
A G
M
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Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

Inscribed Angles Intercepted Arcs

Figure 1 LAP LP
Figure 2 TOP TP
Figure 3 CGM CM
 Theorems on Inscribed Angles
1. If an angle is inscribed in a circle, then the measure
of the angle equals one-half the measure of its
intercepted arc (or the measure of the intercepted arc
is twice the measure of the inscribed angle.)
A
Example: In the figure on the right,
ACT is an inscribed angle and
AT is its intercepted arc. •
If m AT = 120, then m ACT = 60 C

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2. If two inscribed angles of a circle (or congruent
circles) intercept congruent arcs or the same arc, then
the angles are congruent.

Figure 2 I L
Figure 1 P O

T•
S • E

I
L
M P

In Figure 1, PIO and PLO intercept In Figure 2, SIM and ELP

PO. Since PIO and PLO intercept intercept SM and EP, respectively. If
the same arc, the two angles, then, are SM EP, then SIM ELP.
congruent.
3. If an inscribed angle of a circle intercepts a
semicircle, then the angle is a right angle.

N
S

O
•
T

In the figure, NTE intercepts NSE.

If NSE is a semicircle, then NTE is a right
angle.
4. If a quadrilateral is inscribed in a circle, then its
opposite angles are supplementary.
R

Quadrilateral DREA is inscribed in circle M.

m < RDA + m < REA = 180 D •M

m < DRE + m < DAE = 180

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