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CIE IGCSE Maths: Extended Your notes

3.4 Circle Theorems

Contents
3.4.1 Angles at Centre & Semicircles
3.4.2 Chords & Tangents
3.4.3 Cyclic Quadrilaterals
3.4.4 Segment Theorems

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3.4.1 Angles at Centre & Semicircles

Your notes
What are circle theorems?
You will have learned a lot of angle facts for your GCSE, including angles in polygons and angles with
parallel lines
Circle Theorems deal with angle facts that occur when lines are drawn within and connected to a circle
What do I need to know?
You must be familiar with the names of parts of a circle including radius, diameter, arc, sector, chord,
segment and tangent

To solve some problems you may need to use the angle facts you are already familiar with from
triangles, polygons, and parallel lines
You may also have to use the formulae for circumference and area, so ensure you’re familiar with them
Circumference = π× diameter (C = πd)
Area = πr2 (A = πr2)

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Angles at Centre & Circumference

Circle Theorem: The angle subtended by an arc at the centre is twice the angle at the Your notes
circumference
This is one of the most useful circle theorems and forms a basis for many other angle facts within circles
In this theorem, the chords (radii) to the centre and the chords to the circumference are both drawn
from (subtended by) the ends of the same arc
It is an easy circle theorem to spot on a diagram
STEP 1
Find any two radii in the circle and follow them to the circumference
STEP 2
See if there are lines from those points going to any other point on the circumference
When using this theorem in an exam you must use the keywords
The angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference

This theorem can also happen when the ‘triangle parts’ overlap:

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Your notes

Circle theorem: The angle in a semicircle is a right angle

This is a special case of the angle at the centre theorem above
The angle on the diameter = 180°
The angle at the circumference = 90°
It is easy to spot, look for a diameter in the circle and see if it makes the base of a triangle, with its top
vertex at the circumference
Make sure that you are looking at a diameter by checking it goes through the centre
These questions only need half of the circle so they could appear in whole circles or in semicircles
only
Any angle at the circumference that comes from each end of the diameter in this way will be 90°
This is most commonly known as the angle in a semicircle theorem, however if using it in an exam you
must use the keywords
The angle in a semicircle is 90°
Look out for triangles hidden among other lines/shapes within the circle

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Your notes

Exam Tip
Add anything you can to a diagram you have been given
Mark any equal radii and write in any angles and lengths you can work out, even if they don’t
seem relevant to the actual question
For each angle you work out, try to assign an angle fact or circle theorem to it
Questions often ask for “reasons” and the names/titles/phrases for each of these is exactly
what they are after
When asked to “give reasons” aim to quote an angle fact or circle theorem for every angle you
find, not just one for the final answer

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Worked example
Your notes
Find the value of x in the diagram below.

There are three radii in the diagram, mark these as equal length lines. Notice how they create two
isosceles triangles.
Base angles in isosceles triangles are equal, so this means that the angle next to must be 60°.

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Your notes

Using the circle theorem "The angle at the centre subtended by an arc is twice the angle at the
circumference", form an equation for .

Expand the brackets and solve the equation.

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3.4.2 Chords & Tangents

Your notes
Circles & Chords
What is a chord?
A chord is any straight line is a circle that joins any two parts of the circumference
Any equal chords are equidistant from the centre of the circle
This means that if each end of a chord is joined to two radii, they will form an isosceles triangle
This is not technically a circle theorem, but is very useful in answering circle theorem questions
To start any circle theorem questions
first identify any radii and mark them as equal lines
then look to see if the radii are joined to any chords
Circle Theorem: The perpendicular bisector of a chord is a radius
If a radius or diameter intersects a chord in a circle, in will bisect that chord at a right angle
bisect means to cut in half
This circle theorem is seen less often, but can be very useful in finding equal lengths and angles
It is often seen in questions involving congruent triangles
To spot it, look for a radius and see if it intersects any chords
Problems involving this theorem often have the radii being joined to the end of the chords and so
creating two congruent triangles
This is also easier to see than remember from its description

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Your notes

What else should I know about chords?

Although it is not strictly a circle theorem the following is a very important fact for solving some
problems
A triangle which is formed from the centre using a chord and two radii is an isosceles triangle
This means at least two of the angles will be equal and there will be at least one line of symmetry
This is very useful in proving circle theorems

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Circles & Tangents

What is a tangent? Your notes
A tangent to a circle is a straight line outside of the circle that touches its circumference only once
Tangents are the easiest thing to spot quickly in a circle theorem question as they lie outside of the
circle and stand out clearly
Circle Theorem: A radius and a tangent are perpendicular
Most of the time, if there is a tangent in a circle theorem question it will meet a radius at the point where
it touches the circumference of a circle
Make sure that the line the tangent meets is definitely a radius
This circle theorem states that a radius and a tangent meet at 90°
Perpendicular just means at right angles
When using this theorem in an exam you must use the keywords
A radius and a tangent meet at right angles

What else should I know about tangents?

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Although it is not strictly a circle theorem the following is a very important fact for solving some
problems
Two tangents from a circle to the same point outside of a circle are equal Your notes
This means that a kite can be formed by two tangents meeting a circle
Remember that a kite is essentially two congruent triangles about its main diagonal
The kite will have two right angles
In this sense the tangents end at two points – the first point is where the two tangents meet and the
other end is where each one touches the circle

Exam Tip
If you spot a tangent on a circle diagram, look to see if it meets a radius and add in the right angle
clearly to the diagram straight away
In some cases just the act of doing this can earn you a mark!

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Worked example
Your notes
Find the value of θ in the diagram below.

The lines ST and RT are both tangents to the circle and meet the two radii on the circumference at the
points S and T.
Angle TSO = angle TRO = 90°
A radius and a tangent meet at right angles
Use vertically opposite angles to find the value of the angle at T that is opposite the 25° angle.
Angle RTS = 25°
Vertically opposite angles
Mark these angles clearly on the diagram.

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Your notes

Angles in a quadrilateral add up to 360°. Use this to form an equation for θ.

Simplify.

Solve.

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3.4.3 Cyclic Quadrilaterals

Your notes
Cyclic Quadrilaterals
Circle theorem: Opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral add up to 180°
This theorem states that in a cyclic quadrilateral, the angles opposite each other will add up to 180°
What is a cyclic quadrilateral?
A cyclic quadrilateral is any quadrilateral that is formed by four points that are on the circumference of
a circle

The theorem only works for cyclic quadrilaterals

Do not be fooled by other quadrilaterals in a circle
The diagram below shows a common scenario that is NOT a cyclic quadrilateral, as only three
points are on the circumference

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Your notes

If giving the cyclic quadrilateral theorem as a reason in an exam, use the key vocabulary
Opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral add up to 180°
The word supplementary means angles that add up to 180° and could be used here as well but
with specific reference to the angles being in a cyclic quadrilateral

Exam Tip
Identifying cyclic quadrilaterals quickly in a busy circle theorem question can help find angles and
speed up answering these questions in an exam
Just remember to check that all four vertices lie on the circumference

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Worked example
Your notes
The circle below has centre, O, find the value of x.

This is a busy diagram with a lot going on.

Identify both the cyclic quadrilateral and the radius that is perpendicular to the chord.
Add to the diagram as you work through the problem.

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Your notes

The radius bisects the chord and so creates two congruent triangles.
Use this to work out 72° (equal to the equivalent angle in the other triangle) and 18° (angles in a triangle
add up to 180°).
Then use the cyclic quadrilateral theorem.
2x + 4 + 20 + 18 = 180
2x = 138
x = 69°

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3.4.4 Segment Theorems

Your notes
Circles & Segments
Circle Theorem: Angles at the circumference subtended by the same arc are equal
This theorem is also sometimes known as the same segment theorem
It states that any two angles at the circumference of a circle that are formed from the same two points
on the circumference are equal
Subtended means the equal angles are created by drawing chords from the ends of an arc
These chords may or may not pass through the centre
This is one of the more tricky circle theorems to identify
STEP 1
Choose an angle on the circumference and put your index fingers on it
STEP 2
Use your fingers to follow the two lines that form the angle to the point where they each meet the
circumference
STEP 3
See if there are any other lines from these two points that meet at another angle
The two angles are equal

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Your notes

If giving the same segment theorem as a reason in an exam, use the key vocabulary
Angles in the same segment are equal

Exam Tip
The same segment theorem is a common circle theorem used in GCSE exam questions
Don't be afraid of it, look for as many equal angles you can find using it and fill them in as they will
help you find other angles
If you use this theorem to help you find other angles, you should still mention the same segment
theorem in your reasons

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Worked example
Your notes
Find the value of θ in the diagram below, giving reasons for your answers.

There is a diameter here, splitting the circle into two semicircles.

Identify the two triangles in each semi circle and mark in the right angles using the angle in a semicircle
theorem.
Find the other angles in the triangles using the rule angles in a triangle add up to 180°

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Your notes

In the diagram, notice how the angle θ is subtended from the same chord as the angle that is 17°.
Angles A and B are 90° because the angle at the circumference in a semi circle is a right angle
The angles at C are 64° and 17° because the angles in a triangle add up to 180°
θ = 17°
Because angles in the same segment are equal

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Alternate Segment Theorem

Circle theorem: Alternate Segment Theorem Your notes
Although one of the least obvious circle theorems to identify, this is very helpful in finding angles
quickly in many questions
The Alternate Segment Theorem states that the angle between a chord and a tangent is equal to the
angle in the alternate segment
You can spot this circle theorem by looking for a “cyclic triangle”
ie. all three vertices of a triangle lie on the circumference
but one vertex meets a tangent – look for where 2 chords meet a tangent
To identify which angles are equal,
Find the point where the 'cyclic triangle' meets the tangent and mark the angle between them
Look for the vertex in the triangle that is opposite the marked angle at the point where the triangle
meets the circumference
Mark this angle as equal to the first angle you marked

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Exam Tip
Your notes
Spotting equal angles using the alternate angle theorem can save a lot of time in the exam
Identify if there are any triangles with all three vertices on the circumference early on
Look to see if any of the vertices meet a tangent

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Worked example
Your notes
Find the value of x , stating any angle facts and circle theorems you use.

Identify the triangle in the circle with all three vertices at the circumference.
One vertex of this triangle meets a tangent at the bottom, so look for the vertex inside the triangle
opposite this point and mark that angle with 2x + 5.

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Your notes

Give reasons for your working as you go.

The top left angle is 2x + 5 because of the alternate segment theorem
This angle is also subtended by the same arc as the angle at the centre.
The angle at the centre = 2(2x + 5) because of the circle theorem
'the angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference'
Form an equation.

Expand the brackets and solve the equation.

Using the "alternate segment theorem" and that "angles at the centre are twice angles at the
circumference"

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