GCSE Circle Theorems

Dr J Frost ([email protected])
www.drfrostmaths.com

Last modified: 20th November 2016

RECAP: Parts of a Circle
?
?
!
(Minor) Arc
Sector

Chord Radius

(Minor)
Segment
Diameter

Tangent
Circumference
What are Circle Theorems
Circle Theorems are laws that apply to both angles and lengths when circles are
involved. We’ll deal with them in groups.

#1 Non-Circle Theorems

These are not circle theorems, but are useful in questions involving circle theorems.

?
130

50

Angles in a quadrilateral Base angles of an isosceles

add up to 360. triangle are equal.
#2 Circle Theorems Involving Right Angles
Bro Tip: Remember the wording in the black boxes, because you’re
often required to justify in words a particular angle in an exam.

!
radiu
s

ngent
ta

“Angle in semicircle is 90.”

“Angle between radius
and tangent is 90”. Note that the hypotenuse of
the triangle MUST be the
diameter.
#3 Circle Theorems Involving Other Angles

!  
𝑎
 𝑎  𝑎

2𝑎
 

“Angles in same segment are “Angle at centre is twice the

equal.” angle at the circumference.”
#3 Circle Theorems Involving Other Angles

!
x

 
180 − 𝑥
 
𝑥

Opposite angles of cyclic

quadrilateral add up to 180.
#4 Circle Theorems Involving Lengths

Lengths of the tangents from a

point to the circle are equal.
#4 Circle Theorems Involving Lengths

Radius is of constant length

Bro Tip: When you have multiple radii, put a
mark on each of them to remind yourself
they’re the same length.

This result is that any triangle with

one vertex at the centre, and the
other two on the circumference,
must be isosceles.
 Which Circle Theorem?
Identify which circle theorems you could use to solve Angle in semicircle is 90
each question. Reveal
Angle between tangent
and radius is 90

Opposite angles of cyclic

quadrilateral add to 180

Angles in same segment

are equal
O
Angle at centre is twice
? 160 angle at circumference

Lengths of the tangents

100 from a point to the circle
are equal

Base angles of isosceles

triangle are equal.
Angles of quadrilateral
add to 360
Which Circle Theorem?
Identify which circle theorems you could use to solve Angle in semicircle is 90
each question. Reveal
Angle between tangent
and radius is 90

Opposite angles of cyclic

70 quadrilateral add to 180

Angles in same segment

are equal
70
Angle at centre is twice
60 angle at circumference

Lengths of the tangents

from a point to the circle
? are equal

Base angles of isosceles

triangle are equal.
Angles of quadrilateral
add to 360
Which Circle Theorem?
Identify which circle theorems you could use to solve Angle in semicircle is 90
each question. Reveal
Angle between tangent
and radius is 90

Opposite angles of cyclic

quadrilateral add to 180

Angles in same segment

are equal
115
Angle at centre is twice
angle at circumference

Lengths of the tangents

from a point to the circle
are equal

Base angles of isosceles

triangle are equal.
Angles of quadrilateral
add to 360
Which Circle Theorem?
Identify which circle theorems you could use to solve Angle in semicircle is 90
each question. Reveal
Angle between tangent
and radius is 90

Opposite angles of cyclic

quadrilateral add to 180

Angles in same segment

70 are equal

Angle at centre is twice

angle at circumference

Lengths of the tangents

from a point to the circle
are equal

Base angles of isosceles

? triangle are equal.
Angles of quadrilateral
add to 360
Which Circle Theorem?
Identify which circle theorems you could use to solve Angle in semicircle is 90
each question. Reveal
Angle between tangent
and radius is 90

Opposite angles of cyclic

quadrilateral add to 180

Angles in same segment

32
are equal

Angle at centre is twice

angle at circumference

Lengths of the tangents

from a point to the circle
? are equal

Base angles of isosceles

triangle are equal.
Angles of quadrilateral
add to 360
Which Circle Theorem?
Identify which circle theorems you could use to solve Angle in semicircle is 90
each question.
Angle between tangent
and radius is 90

Opposite angles of cyclic

quadrilateral add to 180
31
Angles in same segment
? are equal

Angle at centre is twice

angle at circumference

Lengths of the tangents

from a point to the circle
are equal

Base angles of isosceles

triangle are equal.
Angles of quadrilateral
add to 360
Check Your Understanding
 𝐴

 𝐷 73
  °
 
𝑥=110°
?
 𝑥

 𝐵

37
  °

 𝐶

 𝑂
?  𝑥  𝐴
  𝑦

𝑥=66°
  24°
 
 𝐶

 𝐵
Exercise 1
1 a b c
 𝐴
 𝐵  𝑥
 𝑥  𝑥
 𝑂
150°
 
85
  ° 60°
 
 𝐷  𝐶
51°
 

 𝒙=𝟗𝟓?°  𝒙=𝟓𝟏   𝒙=𝟕𝟓

?°
d e
?° f

 𝑂  𝑂  𝑂
 𝑥 80
  °  𝑥
 𝑥
50°
 

 𝒙=𝟗𝟎
?°  𝒙=𝟒𝟎?°  𝒙=𝟖𝟎
?°
Exercise 1
2 a  𝐴 b
 𝐴
 𝒙=𝟏𝟎𝟎
?°
𝑂
  𝑂
  𝑥 
 𝑥 80°
   𝐵
 𝐵

 𝐷
110°
   𝒙=𝟏𝟒𝟎
?° 𝐶
 
 𝐶
c d  𝐴 e  𝐴
 𝐴 ?
𝐷
 
85°
  30°
 
 𝑂
 𝑂  𝑥  𝐵
80°
   𝑥
 𝑥  𝐶
70°
 
 𝐶
 𝐶  𝐵
 𝐵 ?
?  𝒙=𝟏𝟒𝟎 °  𝒙=𝟓𝟓 °  𝒙=𝟒𝟎 °
 Exercise 1
?
3 a b
 𝐶
 𝐵  𝑥  
𝒙=𝟓𝟏 °
 𝐴
82
  °  𝑦 ?
 𝐷
 𝑥
78°
 

  𝒙=𝟏𝟔 °  𝐸   𝒙 =𝟓𝟎 °
c d
80°
   𝑥
 𝑥
?

  𝒙 =𝟒𝟓 °
Exercise 1
4  Determine each indicated angle in terms of .
𝐴  𝐵 
𝐴 
𝑂  𝑥  𝑂   𝑥 𝐴 
 𝑥
𝐷  𝐶 
𝐵 
𝐵 
𝟏
∠
  𝑨𝑶𝑩=𝟑𝟔𝟎− 𝟐 𝒙 ∠
  𝑨𝑶𝑩=𝟏𝟖𝟎− 𝟐 𝒙   𝑩𝑨𝑪 =
∠ 𝒙
𝟐

? ? ?
Exercise 1
N a b
 𝐵  𝐴

 𝐴 70
  °

 𝐷  𝑥  𝑥

 𝒙=𝟏𝟐𝟓 °  𝐶  𝐵
 𝒙=𝟕𝟓 ?
°
 𝑃 𝑄
 

? c 100°
 

150°
   𝑆
𝑉
 
 𝑥
 𝑇  𝒙=𝟏𝟏𝟎 °
𝑈 ?
 
#5 Alternate Segment Theorem
This one is probably the hardest to remember and a particular favourite in the
Intermediate/Senior Maths Challenges.

!
Click to Start
This is called the alternate Bromanimation
segment because it’s the
segment on the other side
of the chord.


...is equal to the angle in the
alternate segment
ch
ord

tangent


The angle between the

tangent and a chord...
Check Your Understanding

? z = 58
Check Your Understanding
Source: IGCSE Jan 2014 (R)

Angle ABC = Angle AOC = Angle CAE =

112 ? 136 ? 68 ?
Give a reason: Give a reason: Give a reason:
Supplementary angles of Angle at centre is double Alternate Segment
?
cyclic quadrilateral add up ?
angle at circumference. Theorem. ?
to 180.
Exercise 2
1 2
 𝐵

55°
 
 𝑥
 𝐴  𝑥

 𝑦
65° 70°
   𝑦
 𝐷
𝒙=𝟓𝟓°
   
 𝐶
 𝐵
𝒙=𝟔𝟓°
 
3
49°
 
 𝐴  𝑂

 𝑥
?
71°
   𝐷
? ?  𝒙=𝟒𝟏 °
 𝐶
Exercise 2
5
4  𝐵
 𝐴
 𝑥  𝐵
 𝑂
70
  °
 𝐴 121°
   𝐶

 𝑥
63°
   𝐸 62
  °
 𝐷  𝐶  𝐷
 𝒙=𝟓𝟖 °  𝒙=𝟒𝟐 °
?  𝐴 ?
6
 𝐵
 𝑥
 𝑂

81°
   𝒙=𝟒𝟗?°
58°
 
 𝐶  𝐷
Exercise 2
 𝐴
7  𝐵 8
 𝒙=𝟒𝟗?°
82°
 
 𝐴  𝐶
115°
 
 𝐶
 𝐵
70°
 
 𝑥
 𝐷
 𝐸
 𝑥
 𝒙=𝟒𝟓?°

 𝐷
N1
 
[SMC 2012 Q20] In trapezium , 25cm and is parallel
to . All four sides of are tangent to a circle with centre .
The area of the trapezium is . What is the radius of the
circle?
 
cm ?
Exercise 2

N2  
[SMC 2012 Q22] A semicircle of radius
is drawn with centre and diameter .
The line is then extended to the point ,
such that and are of equal length. An
arc of the circle with centre and radius
is then drawn so that the line is a
tangent to the semicircle at , as shown.
What, in terms of , is the area of
triangle ?

?
APPENDIX: Circle Theorem Proofs

?a
90-a
?

?
180-2a ?
90-a
a 2a
?
A C
O
Let angle BAO be a. Triangle ABO is isosceles so ABO = a. Remaining angle in
triangle must be 180-2a. Thus BOC = 2a. Since triangle BOC is isosceles, angle
BOC = OCB = 90 – a. Thus angle ABC = ABO + OBC = a + 90 – a = 90.
APPENDIX: Circle Theorem Proofs

!
x b? This combined
angle
= 180 – a – b
?
(angles in a triangle)

a
Adding
opposite
b angles:
a + b + 180
a? – a – b = 180

Opposite angles of cyclic

quadrilateral add up to 180.
APPENDIX: Circle Theorem Proofs
C 1: Angle between tangent
and radius is 90, so angle
CAD = 90 - 
?3
B 2: Angle in semicircle is 90.
?4 ?2
D
3: Angles in triangle add up
to 180.

4: But any other angle in

the same segment will be
the same.
?1
90-


A
Alternate Segment Theorem