Circle

Theorems

Circle Theorem

Remember the basics:0

Angles in a triangle sum to 180

Angles on a line sum to 1800
Isosceles triangles (radius)
Angles

3600

about

point

sum

to

Parts of a Circle

radius

ch

d
r
o

tangent

m
a
i
D

r
e
et

400

800

THEOREM 1: ANGLE at the CENTRE

of the CIRCLE is twice the angle at
the circumference subtended by the
same arc.

1150

2300

THIS IS THE ONE MOST PEOPLE DONT SEE

800

400
LOOKS
DIFFERENT
BUT STILL
THE CENTRE

900

1800

SPECIAL CASE OF THE SAME RULE BUT

MAKES A RULE BY ITSELF

900

THEOREM 2: Every angle at the

circumference of a SEMICIRCLE, that is
subtended by the diameter of the semicircle is a right angle.

PALE BLUE
AREA IS THE
SEGMENT

RULE 3: Angles at the circumference in the

same SEGMENT of a circle are equal

PALE BLUE
AREA IS THE
SEGMENT

RULE 3: Angles at the circumference in the

same SEGMENT of a circle are equal

THEOREM 3: Angles at the circumference in

the same SEGMENT of a circle are equal

NOTE: Will lead you to SIMILAR triangles (one

is an enlargement of the other)

CYCLIC
QUADRILATERAL
MUST touch the
circumference at
all four vertices

890
1100
700
910

THEOREM 4: Opposite angles sum to 180 in a

cyclic quadrilateral

A tangent is a line that touches a circle at one

point only. This point is called the point of
contact.

tangent
d
r
o

ch

A chord is a line that joins two points on the

circumference.

Theorem 5 A tangent is
perpendicular to a radius

radius

tangent

900

Theorem 6 Tangents to a circle from

the same point are equal in length

Theorem 7 The line joining an external point to the

centre of a circle bisects the angle between the tangents

350 0
70
350

Theorem 5&7 combined can help you find the missing

angles..
900
350 0
70
350

x
y
900

Theorem 8 A radius bisects a chord

MIDPOINT
at 900
E

chord

OF TH
CHORD

900

radius

And the chord will be cut perfectly in half...

Theorem 9 Alternate angle theorem

Need a tangent

And a triangle that joins the tangent and two

other points on the circumference of the circle

Theorem 9 Alternate angle theorem

Theorem 9 Alternate angle theorem

The angle between a tangent and a chord

Is equal to the angle in the alternate segment

Theorem 9 Alternate angle theorem

The angle between a tangent and a chord

Is equal to the angle in the alternate segment

COMMON ERRORS
IT
A
IS IS
TOONLY
THINK
DIAMETER
THIS IS A
IF YOU ARE
DIAMETER
TOLD
SO
SO..

THIS MUST
READ
BE
900
QUSETIONS
TANGENT
CAREFULLY..
MEETS
RADIUS