Quantitative Aptitude

Circles

Circles Weightage in CAT

15 20% of Quantitative Ability section Formula and theorem based

Concepts - Circles
Centre and Radius Two parameters required to define a circle Chord Diameter Tangent Secant Arc (Major and Minor) Central Angle

Concepts - Circles
Angle subtended by the Arc

Angle inscribed in an arc

Inscribed angle

Concepts - Circles
Concentric circles Congruent circles Circumference of a circle Area of a circle Sector and Segment

Question types: Circles

Problems related to area of circle -- Segment and Sector included Properties of Circles: -- Tangents -- Secants -- Chords -- Arcs

Examples Circles
Q. Two identical circles intersect each other such that their centers and the points of intersection form a square of side 1 cm. Then area of the portion common to both the circles is Solution: Let us draw the figure first. Let P, Q be the centers of the given circles. PNQM is a square with side 1 cm. We know that, Area common to both the circles = 2 Area of segment P MN A careful observation will tell us that the required area is equal to

Examples Circles
2 [(Area of sector P - MN) (Area of triangle PMN)] Let us calculate each areas one by one. We know that, m P = 90 (Angle of a square) So, area of sector P - MN = (90/360) R2 = /4 Now, area of PMN is to be calculated. It can be easily seen that area of PMN is half the area of square PMQN. Area of square PMQN = (side)2 = 12 = 1 So, area of PMN = So, required area = (/4 ) sq. cm.

Examples Circles
Q. A circle with radius 2 cm is placed against a right angle. Another small circle is also placed as shown in the adjoining figure. What is the radius of the smaller circle. Solution: Let us draw the diagram first with necessary labeling and constructions. Let the centers of the two circles be A and O. K be the point of contacts of the circles. And B and D be the points of contacts of the bigger circles and the right angle.

Examples Circles
CD and CB are tangent segments drawn from C to the bigger circle. CD = CB and m BCD = 90. Quadrilateral ABCD is square with side 2 cm. Diagonal AC = 22 cm Now, AK = 2 cm (Radius of the bigger circle) KC = 22 2 cm Let radius of the smaller circle r. KC = OK + OC. Remember how we got AC to be 2 Radius of the bigger circle. In similar manner we can say that OC = r 2 KC = r + r 2 = 22 2 Solving for r we get r = 6 42

Examples Circles
Q. Find the distance in cm between two parallel chords of lengths 24 cm and 32 cm in a circle of radius 20 cm. Options: 1) 1 or 7

2) 2 or 14

3) 3 or 21

4) 4 or 28

Solution: If we see the options, we find there are two values in each option. Why is that so? It is because the two parallel chords can be in the same half or in the opposite halves of the circle (As shown in the figure) Let CD = 32 and AB = 24

Examples Circles
Let M, N be the midpoints of chords AB and CD respectively. So, OM and ON are perpendicular bisectors of chords AB and CD respectively. And MN is the distance between the two chords. MB = 12 and ND = 16 cm. Now, OND and OMB are right angled triangles. So, using Pythagoras theorem in both the triangles we get, OM2 = OB2 BM2 and ON2 = OD2 ND2 OM = 16 and ON = 12 So, we get MN = 16 12 = 4 or 28. (Option 4)

Examples Circles
Q. In the figure given below, AB is a chord of circle with center O. AB is extended to C such that BC = OB. The straight line CO is produced to meet the circle in D. If ACD = y and AOD = x such that x = ky. Find the value of k. Solution: Let us draw the figure with measurements. In OBC, OB = BC (given) BCA = BOC But, BCA = y (given) So, we get BOC = y

Examples Circles
OBA is exterior angle of OBC. OBA = BOC + BCO = 2y Also, we can see that in AOB, OB = OA = Radius of the circle. OAB = OBA = 2y -Now, We can easily see that AOD + AOB + BOC = 180 (Linear angles) Also, AOB + OBA + OAB = 180 (Angles of a triangle) Further, it is given that AOD = x. AOD + AOB + BOC = AOB + OBA + OAB Substituting the values we get, x + y = 2y + 2y x = 3y k=3

Examples Circles
Q. In the figure given below (not drawn to scale), A, B and C are three points on a circle with center O. The chord BA is extended to a point T such that CT becomes a tangent to the circle at point C. If ATC = 30 and ACT = 50, then the angle BOA is:

Solution: Let us find measure of CAT first.

Examples Circles
In ACT, ACT = 50 and ATC = 30, CAT = 100 But, we can see that CAT is exterior angle of ABC. CAT = BCA + CBA --- (1) Using alternate segment theorem we get, CBA = ACT CBA = 50 Now, consider BCT CBT + BCT + BTC = 180 BCA + ACT + CBT + BTC = 180 BCA = 50

Examples Circles
But, BOA = 2 BCA (Angle subtended by an arc at the centre is twice at the circumference) Hence, we get BOA = 100

Important Properties - Circles

Circumference of circle = 2r Area of circle = r2 Area of sector subtending angle at the centre = (/360) r2 Angular measure of a minor arc is always less than 180. Angular measure of the major arc = 360 the angular measure of the corresponding minor arc Angular measure of a semicircle is 180. Angular measure of a circle is 360. Angles subtended by the same arc are congruent. Angles inscribed in the same arc are congruent. An angle inscribed in a semicircle is a right angle.

Important Properties - Circles

Length of arc = (/360) 2r where r is the radius of the circle and is the angular measure of the arc. The length of the direct common tangent is always more than the length of the transverse common tangent. A tangent at any point on a circle is perpendicular to the radius at the point of contact From a point outside a circle, exactly two tangents can be drawn to the circle. A segment joining a given point in the exterior of the circle and the point of contact of the tangent drawn from the given point is the tangent segment. The tangent segments drawn from an exterior point are equal in length.

Important Properties - Circles

For example, in the figure below, PA and PB are tangent segments to the circle drawn from the point in the exterior of the circle. Also, PA = PB

Only one tangent can be drawn from a point on the circle, and no tangent can be drawn from a point inside the circle. When two circles in one plane have one and only one point in common, the two circles are said to be tangent circles or touching circles.

Important Properties - Circles

Centres of tangent circles and their point of contact lie on the same line.

In the case of two tangent circles (touching externally), there are two DCT and only one TCT.

Important Properties - Circles

In the case of two intersecting (overlapping) circles, there are two DCT and no TCT.

In the case of two circles touching internally, there is only one DCT and no TCT.

Important Properties - Circles

A perpendicular drawn from the centre of a circle to a chord bisects the chord. Conversely, the segment joining the centre of a circle and midpoint of a chord is perpendicular to the chord. Equal chords are equidistant from the centre. Conversely, chords equidistant from the centre are equal in length If two secants of a circle passing through point P outside the circle intersect the circle at points A, B, C and D, then PA PB = PC PD

Important Properties - Circles

Angles subtended by congruent chords at the centre are congruent. Angles subtended by a chord at distinct points on the circumference, in alternate segments, are supplementary. The angle subtended by an arc or a chord, at any point on the circumference, is half of the angle subtended by the same arc or chord at the centre of the circle. A line joining the centres of two intersecting circles is the perpendicular bisector of the common chord passing through the points of intersection of the two circles.

Important Properties - Circles

The angle between a tangent and a chord at the point of tangency is equal to the angle subtended by the chord in the alternate segment. This is known as the alternate segment theorem.

Important Properties - Circles

Tangent Secant Rule: AT2 = PA PB

Intersection of Chords: PA PB = PC PD