Circles - Angle Measurement from Intersection & Segment Measurements 

Lesson: ​Geometry 
 
Introduction 
 
Many of the concepts -- in fact all of them -- require pure memorization. Apart from 
some word problems which need to be solved analytically, everything else must be 
remembered although in reality, there will not be more than 5-6 questions in the CETs. 
Knowledge on circles are most intensively tested in the UPCAT and ACET, so if you are 
vying for a slot in these two colleges, it would be ideal to get these items correct. 
 
Before proceeding with the lesson on everything, let us first define a few of the 
key terms which will be used in these notes. 
 
Definition of Terms 
 

 
Word  Meaning (Dictionary.com) 

Circle  A round plane figure whose boundary (circumference) 

consists of points equidistant from a fixed point (the center). 

Radius (BC)  A straight line from the center to the circumference of the 
sphere 
Diameter (AD)  A straight line passing from side to side through the center 
of a circle or sphere 

Circumference  The distance of the circle’s “boundary” or perimeter 

Chord (HI)  A straight line joining the ends of an arc (different from a 
diameter as the chord does not pass through the center) 

Tangent (FG)  A line that intersects a curve (i.e. the circumference) at a 

single point only 

Secant (JE)  A straight line that cuts a curve in two or more parts (and 
intersects the circle at 2 points) 
 
 
Angle Measurements 
 

 
  
Measure of Segments 
 
Measurement of Secants 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tangents of 2 Circles 
 

 
Term  Definition (Google) 

Common Internal Tangent  It is a common internal tangent if the 

intersection of the tangent and the line 
segment joining the centers is not empty 

Internally Tangent  The circles are internally tangent if they 

share a point and all the points of one 
circle lie on the circle of another.  

Common External Tangent  It is a common external tangent if the 

intersection of the tangent and the line 
segment joining the centers is empty.  

Externally Tangent 
Two circles are externally tangent if they 
share a single point, and no point of one 
circle is on the circle of another.