CHAPTER 19

Circles

19-1. Arcs, Angles, and Tangents

In a plane, a circle is the set of all points equidistant from a given secant
point called the center. It follows from the definition of a circle S
that all radii are equal in measure. P
A circle is usually named by its center. The circle at
the right is called circle O . (symbolized as O ) chord O
A chord is a segment whose endpoints lie on a circle.
A secant is a line that contains a chord. Q
A tangent is a line in the plane of a circle, and intersects R
the circle at exactly one point: the point of tangency. tangent

A central angle is an angle whose vertex is the center of the circle. ∠POQ and ∠POS are central angles.
An arc is a part of a circle. The measure of a minor arc is the measure  , QR
PQ  , RS
 , and SP
 are minor arcs.
of its central angle. The measure of a minor arc is less than 180.  
QPS and QRS are semicircles.
The measure of a semicircle is 180.  and SPR
PQS  are major arcs.
The measure of a major arc is 360 minus the measure of its minor arc. = =
mQPS mQRS 180
 = 360 − mSP
mPQS 
Arc Addition Postulate
The measure of an arc formed by two adjacent arcs is the sum of the

= mPQ
measure of the two arcs. mPQR  + mQR

Theorems - Tangent Lines A

If a line is tangent to a circle, then the line is perpendicular
to the radius at the point of tangency.
PA ⊥ OA and PB ⊥ OB O P

Tangents to a circle from the same exterior point are congruent.

PA = PB B
A

Example 1 □ In O shown at the right, PA and PB

are tangents, PB = 12 , and m∠APO =25 . 25
O P
a. Find the measure of ∠POA .
b. Find the length of PA . 12
c. Find the radius of O .
B

Solution □ a. PA ⊥ OA If a line is tangent to a circle, then the line is ⊥

to the radius at the point of tangency.
m∠PAO = 90 Definition of ⊥ lines
m∠POA + m∠APO + m∠PAO =
180 Angle Sum Theorem
m∠POA + 25 + 90 =
180 Substitution
m∠POA = 65

= PB
b. PA = 12 Tangents to a circle from the same exterior
point are ≅ .

OA OA

==
c. tan 25
PA 12
=OA 12 tan 25 ≈ 5.6
310 Chapter 19

Exercises - Arcs, Angles, and Tangents

5
Questions 1 - 4 refer to the following
information. Q 6
A
12
B
C
O P
C A

B
52 O 9.5
9 R

E
D In the figure above, O is inscribed in ∆PQR .
45
If PA = 12 , QA = 6 , and RB = 9.5 , what is the
P perimeter of ∆PQR ?

In the figure above, BD is a diameter, and PA

A) 46
and PD are tangents to circle O . m∠CDE = 52 ,
m∠APD = 45 , and AP = 9 . B) 49
C) 52
1
D) 55
What is the measure of ∠ODC ?

6
2
What is the measure of ∠OCD ?
O
R
10 16

P Q
3
What is the measure of ∠AOD ? In the figure above, OP is a radius and PQ is
tangent to circle O . If the radius of circle O
is 10 and QR = 16 , what is the length of PQ ?

A) 16
4
B) 20
What is the length of PD ?
C) 24
D) 28
Circles 311

19-2. Arc Lengths and Areas of Sectors

Circumference of a circle: C = 2π r or C = π d
A
Area of circle: A = π r2
r
A sector of a circle is a region bound by two radii and an arc of the circle.
The shaded region of the circle at the right is called sector AOB . O
m∠AOB
Length of 
B
= 2π r ⋅
AB
360
m∠AOB
= π r2 ⋅
Area of sector AOB
360
= 2π r × number of revolutions
The distance traveled by a wheel

Example 1 □ In circle O shown at the right, AB is B

C
tangent to the circle.
a. Find the area of the shaded region. 45
O A
b. Find the perimeter of the shaded region. 12

Solution □ a. m∠OAB =
90 Line tangent to a circle is ⊥ to the radius.
m∠OBA =
45 Acute angles of a right ∆ are complementary.
= AB
OA = 12 Legs of isosceles triangle are ≅ .
1
Area of ∆OAB
= = 72
(12)(12)
2
45
Area of sector AOC= π (12) 2 ⋅ = 18π .
360
= 72 − 18π
Area of shaded region Answer

45
b. Length of 
AC= 2π (12) ⋅ = 3π
360
Length of BC = OB − OC = 12 2 − 12 In a 45 -45 -90 ∆ , the hypotenuse is 2
times as long as a leg.
Perimeter of shaded region
= length of 
AC + BC + AB
= 3π + (12 2 − 12) + 12 = 3π + 12 2 Answer

Example 2 □ The radius of a bicycle wheel is 12 inches. What is the number of revolutions
the wheel makes to travel 1 mile? ( 1 mile = 5, 280 ft )

Solution □ Let x = number of revolutions.

= 2π r × number of revolutions
The distance traveled by a wheel
=1 mile 2π (12 in) × x
2π (12 in)x
1× 5280 × 12 in = = 5280
1 mile = ft 5280 × 12 in
5280 × 12 2640
=x = ≈ 840 Answer
2π × 12 π
312 Chapter 1

Exercises - Arc Lengths and Areas of Sectors

4
Questions 1 and 2 refer to the following
information. A B
A
8
O

40
O 27 B In the figure above, the radius of the circle is 8
and m∠AOB = 120 . What is the length of AB ?
In the figure above, 
AB is an arc of a circle with
radius 27 cm. A) 8 2

B) 8 3
1
C) 12 2
If the length of arc AB is kπ , what is the value
of k ? D) 12 3

2
If the area of sector OAB is nπ , what is the 5
value of n ?

R
30
P Q

3 In the figure above, OP = OQ and PQ is tangent

to circle O . If the radius of circle O is 8, what
8 7
A is the length of QR ?
6

a 5
A) 10( 2 − 1)
4
O B B) 6

The figure above shows arcs of length 8, 7, 6, 5, C) 10( 3 − 1)

and 4. If m 
AB = 120 , what is the degree measure D) 8
of angle a ?
Circles 313

19-3. Inscribed Angles

An inscribed angle is an angle whose vertex is on a circle and whose sides B
contain chords of the circle.

Theorem - Inscribed Angle

The measure of an inscribed angle is half the measure of its intercepted arc O
and half the measure of its central angle. A
1  1
m∠B= m AC= m∠AOC C
2 2

Corollaries to the Inscribed Angle Theorem

Corollary 1 Corollary 2 Corollary 3

Two inscribed angles that An angle inscribed in a If a quadrilateral is inscribed
intercept the same arc are semicircle is a right angle. in a circle, its opposite angles
congruent. are supplementary.
C
B B C
A
B A
D
A
∠A ≅ ∠B ∠C is a right angle. ∠A is supp. to ∠C
∠B is supp. to ∠D

Example 1 □ a. In the figure below, find the values of x and y .

b. In the figure below, AC is a diameter and m  AB = 72 .

Find the values of a , b , and c .
c. In the figure below, find the values of p and q .

a. b. C c.
q
x
y c 
O
76 p
 
32
a b 94
A B
72

Solution □ a. x= y= 32 Inscribed ∠s that intercept the same arc are ≅ .

b. c = 72 ÷ 2 = 36 The measure of an inscribed ∠ is half the

measure of its intercepted arc.
b = 90 An ∠ inscribed in a semicircle is a right ∠ .
a+c = 90 The acute ∠s of a right ∆ are complementary.
a = 90 − 36 = 54 Substitute c = 36 and solve for a .
c. p + 76 =
180 If a quad. is inscribed in a circle, its opposite ∠s
are supplementary.
p = 104 Solve for p .
q + 94 =180 If a quad. is inscribed in a circle, its opposite ∠s
are supplementary.
q = 86 Solve for q .
314 Chapter 19

Exercises - Inscribed Angles

Questions 1 - 4 refer to the following Questions 5 and 6 refer to the following

information. information.
C
z y
100 D R
Q
48 x
x y 70
A B
O
80 75
w P S

In circle O above, AB is a diameter. In the figure above, a quadrilateral is inscribed in

a circle.
1
What is the value of y ?
5
What is the value of x ?

A) 70
B) 80
2
C) 90
What is the value of x ?
D) 100

3
What is the value of w ? 6
What is the value of y ?

A) 75
B) 80

4 C) 85

What is the value of z ? D) 90

Circles 315

19-4. Arcs and Chords

Theorems

Theorem 1 Theorem 2 Theorem 3

In the same circle or If a diameter is ⊥ to In the same circle or
in congruent circles, a chord, it bisects the in congruent circles,
congruent arcs have chord and its arc. chords equidistant to the
congruent chords. center(s) are congruent.
D
C D
F
C
O D O O
E A
A B
A B E
C B

If   , then AB ≅ CD.
AB ≅ CD If diameter CD ⊥ AB, then =If OE OF , then AB ≅ CD.
The converse is also true. AE ≅ BE and  .
AC ≅ BC The converse is also true.


Example 1 □ a. In the figure below, if m= = 110 and CD = 15 , what is
AB mCD
the length of AB ?

b. In the figure below, AB ⊥ CD . If AB = 20 and CD = 16 , what is

the length of OE ?

= OF
c. In the figure below, OE = 9 and BE = 12 . What is the length of CD ?

a. A b. C c. B
110
E
E
B A B 9 O
O A
15 9 D
D C F
D C
110

Solution □ a. AB
= CD
= 15 In the same circle, ≅ arcs have ≅ chords.

1
b.=
DE =CD 8 If a diameter is ⊥ to a chord, it bisects the chord.
2
1
= OB
OD = = 10
AB In a circle, all radii are ≅ .
2
=
OD 2
DE 2 + OE 2 Pythagorean Theorem
10=
2
82 + OE 2 Substitution
OE = 36
2

OE = 6 Simplify.

c. =
AB 2= = 24
BE 2(12) If a diameter is ⊥ to a chord, it bisects the chord.
= AB
CD = 24 In the same circle, chords equidistant to the center are ≅ .
316 Chapter 19

Exercises - Arcs and Chords

1 3

P
O O Q
R

S
Q R

In circle O above, the area of the circle is 9π

In circle O above, if the radius is 13 and PR = 24 ,
and PR = 5 . What is the length of QR ?
what is the length of QS ?

A) 1
A) 6
B) 7 B) 2

C) 8 C) 3
D) 9 D) 2

2 4

R S
A B
M

O O
Q
N
P
In the figure above, the radius of the circle is 12.
In the circle above, if RS = 6 , OM = 5 , and
If the length of chord AB is 18, what is the
ON = 4 , what is the length of PQ ?
distance between the chord and the diameter?

A) 4 2 A) 2 10
B) 6
B) 3 7
C) 6 2
C) 4 5
D) 6 3
D) 6 2
Circles 317

y
19-5. Circles in the Coordinate Plane
Equation of a Circle ( x, y )
The equation of a circle with center (h, k ) and radius r is r
( x − h) + ( y − k ) =
2
r . 2 2
( h, k )
x
O

Example 1 □ a. Write an equation of a circle with center (−3, 2) and r = 2 .

b. Find the center and radius of a circle with the equation x 2 + y 2 − 4 x + 6 y − 12 =

0.

c. Write an equation of a circle that is tangent to the y - axis and has center (4,3) .

d. Write an equation of a circle whose endpoints of its diameter are at (−4,8)

and (2, −4) .

Solution □ a. ( x − h) 2 + ( y − k ) 2 =
r2 Use the standard form of an equation of a circle.
( x − (−3)) + ( y − 2) =2
2 2 2
Substitute (−3, 2) for (h, k ) and 2 for r .
( x + 3) + ( y − 2) =
2 2
4 Simplify.

b. x 2 + y 2 − 4 x + 6 y =
12 Isolate the constant onto one side.
1 1
x − 4 x + 4 + y + 6 y + 9 = 12 + 4 + 9
2 2
Add (−4 ⋅ ) 2 =4 and (6 ⋅ ) 2 =
9 to each side.
2 2
( x − 2) 2 + ( y + 3) 2 =
25 Factor.
=
The center is (2, −3) and r =
25 5 .
y
c. To visualize the circle, draw a sketch.
Since the circle has its center at (4,3) and
is tangent to the y - axis, its radius is 4 units.
(4,3)
The equation is ( x − 4) 2 + ( y − 3) 2 =
16 . x
O

d. The center of a circle is the midpoint of its diameter.

−4 + 2 8 + (−4)
( h, k ) = ( , ) = (−1, 2)
2 2
Use the distance formula to find the diameter of the circle.
=
d (2 − (−4)) 2 + (−4 − 8)=
2
62 + 12=
2
= 6 5
180
1
=r = (6 5) 3 5
2
The equation of the circle is ( x + 1) 2 + ( y − 2) 2 =
(3 5) 2
or ( x + 1) 2 + ( y − 2) 2 =
45 .
318 Chapter 19

Exercises - Circles in the Coordinate Plane

1 3

y x 2 + 12 x + y 2 − 4 y + 15 =
0

The equation of a circle in the xy - plane is shown

above. Which of the following is true about the
circle?
(5, 2)

x A) center (−6, 2) , radius = 5

O
B) center (6, −2) , radius = 5

C) center (−6, 2) , radius = 15

Which of the following equations represents the D) center (6, −2) , radius = 15
equation of the circle shown in the xy - plane
above?

A) ( x + 5) 2 + ( y + 2) 2 =
4
4
B) ( x − 5) + ( y − 2) =
2 2
4 Which of the following represents an equation
of a circle whose diameter has endpoints (−8, 4)
C) ( x + 5) 2 + ( y + 2) 2 =
16
and (2, −6) ?
D) ( x − 5) + ( y − 2) =
2 2
16
A) ( x − 3) 2 + ( y − 1) 2 =
50

B) ( x + 3) 2 + ( y + 1) 2 =
50

2 C) ( x − 3) 2 + ( y − 1) 2 =
25

Which of the following is an equation of a circle D) ( x + 3) 2 + ( y + 1) 2 =

25
in the xy - plane with center (−2, 0) and a radius
3
with endpoint (0, ) ?
2
5
3 5 x2 + 2 x + y 2 − 4 y − 9 =
A) x 2 + ( y − ) 2 = 0
2 2
3 25 The equation of a circle in the xy - plane is shown
B) x 2 + ( y − ) 2 =
2 4 above. If the area of the circle is kπ , what is the
value of k ?
25
C) ( x + 2) 2 + y 2 =
4
25
D) ( x − 2) 2 + y 2 =
4
Circles 319

Chapter 19 Practice Test

1 3

C y

30 A x
B
O O

(−4, −3)

In the figure above, O is the center of the circle

and AB is a diameter. If the length of AC is 4 3
and m∠BAC = 30 , what is the area of circle O ? In the figure above, the circle is tangent to the
x- axis and has center (−4, −3) . Which of the
A) 12π following equations represents the equation of
the circle shown in the xy - plane above?
B) 16π
C) 18π
A) ( x + 4) 2 + ( y + 3) 2 =
9
D) 24π
B) ( x − 4) 2 + ( y − 3) 2 =
9

C) ( x + 4) 2 + ( y + 3) 2 =
3
2
D) ( x − 4) 2 + ( y − 3) 2 =
3
Q
R
4
O
a+2
a+3
a +1
S
P a+4
a
x
In the circle above, chord RS is parallel to O
3
diameter PQ . If the length of RS is of
4 The figure above shows a semicircle with the
the length of PQ and the distance between lengths of the adjacent arcs a, a + 1, a + 2,
a + 3, and a + 4 . If the value of x is 42, what
the chord and the diameter is 2 7, what is
is the value of a ?
the radius of the circle?

A) 7
A) 6
B) 8
B) 3 7
C) 9
C) 8
D) 10
D) 4 7
320 Chapter 19

5 8

P Q

36
O B
O R
In the figure above, the length of arc 
AB is π .
What is the area of sector OAB ? In the figure above, rectangle OPQR is inscribed
in a quarter circle that has a radius of 9. If PQ = 7 ,
A) 2π what is the area of rectangle OPQR ?

5
B) π
2 A) 24 2
C) 3π B) 26 2
7
D) π C) 28 2
2
D) 30 2

x 2 − 4 x + y 2 − 6 x − 17 =
0 9
In a circle with center O , the central angle has
What is the area of the circle in the xy - plane
2π
above? a measure of radians. The area of the sector
3
formed by central angle AOB is what fraction
A) 20π of the area of the circle?
B) 24π
C) 26π
D) 30π

7 10
Which of the following is the equation of a circle A wheel with a radius of 2.2 feet is turning at
that has a diameter of 8 units and is tangent to the a constant rate of 400 revolutions per minute on
graph of y = 2 ? a road. If the wheel traveled kπ miles in one
hour what is the value of k ? (1 mile = 5,280 feet)

A) ( x + 1) 2 + ( y + 2) 2 =
16

B) ( x − 1) 2 + ( y − 2) 2 =
16

C) ( x + 2) 2 + ( y + 1) 2 =
16

D) ( x − 2) 2 + ( y − 1) 2 =
16