GEOMETRY

MODULE 5 LESSON 1
THALES THEOREM

OPENING EXERCISE
1. Draw the diameter of Circle P and label endpoints A and B.
2. Mark a point anywhere on the circle and label as C.
3. Connect the points to form the triangle ABC.
What is the measure of ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵?
90°
4. Repeat the exercise using two different points labeled D
and E. P
What are the measures of ∠𝐴𝐷𝐵 and ∠𝐴𝐸𝐵?
90°
What conclusion can you make about the results?

THALES’ THEOREM
If A, B, and C are three different points on a circle with a diameter of 𝐴𝐵, then ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 is a right angle.
Note: Diameter 𝐴𝐵 is the hypotenuse.

CONVERSE OF THALES’ THEOREM

If ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 is a right triangle with ∠𝐶 the right angle, then A, B, and C, are
three distinct points on a circle with a diameter 𝐴𝐵.

Therefore, given distinct points, A, B, and C on a circle, ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 is a right

triangle with ∠𝐶 the right angle if and only if 𝐴𝐵is the diameter of the
circle.

Given two points A and B, let point P be the midpoint between them. If C is a point such that ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 is
a right angle, then 𝐵𝑃 = 𝐴𝑃 = 𝐶𝑃.

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VOCABULARY

• Circle: Given a point C in the plane and a number 𝑟 > 0, the circle with center C and radius r is
the set of all points in the plane that are distance r form the point C.
• Radius: May refer either to the line segment joining the center of a circle with any point on that
circle (a radius) or to the length of this line segment (the radius).
• Diameter: May refer either to the segment that passes through the center of a circle whose
endpoints lie on the circle (a diameter) or to the length of this line segment (the diameter).
• Chord: Given a circle C, and let P and Q be points on C. 𝑃𝑄 is a chord of C.
• Central Angle: A central angle of a circle is an angle whose vertex is the center of a circle.

PRACTICE
Refer to the exercises on page 4 of your workbook. (Make sure you’re in Module 5.)

1. AB is the diameter of the circle shown. The radius is 12.5cm, and AC =7cm.
a. Find 𝑚∠𝐶.
By Thales’ Theorem, 𝑚∠𝐶 = 90°.

b. Find AB.
AB is the diameter. Since the radius is given as 12.5, the diameter AB is 25cm.

c. Find BC.
By Pythagorean Theorem, 𝐵𝐶 = 25! − 7! = 576 = 24𝑐𝑚

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2. In the circle shown, BC is the diameter with center A.
a. Find 𝑚∠𝐷𝐴𝐵
Segment DA and BA are both radii and thus the same length. This makes ∆𝐷𝐴𝐵 an isosceles
triangle and 𝑚∠𝐷𝐵𝐴 = 18°. Therefore, 𝑚∠𝐷𝐴𝐵 = 180 − 18 − 18 = 144°.

b. Find 𝑚∠𝐵𝐴𝐸.
Segment EA and BA are both radii and thus the same length. This
makes ∆𝐸𝐴𝐵 an isosceles triangle and 𝑚∠𝐴𝐸𝐵 = 26°. Therefore,
𝑚∠𝐵𝐴𝐸 = 180 − 26 − 26 = 128°.

c. Find 𝑚∠𝐷𝐴𝐸
𝑚∠𝐷𝐴𝐸 completes a 360° angle.
Therefore, 𝑚∠𝐷𝐴𝐸 = 360 − 144 − 128 = 88°

HOMEWORK
Problem Set Module 5 Lesson 1, page 5
#3, #4 and #5 (Hint: R can be outside of the circle).
DUE: Friday, April 14, 2017

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