Circles

Chapter 10
Essential Questions

 How do I identify segments and lines

related to circles?
 How do I use properties of a tangent to a
circle?
Definitions
 A circle is the set of all points in a plane that are
equidistant from a given point called the center of the
circle.
 Radius – the distance from the center to a point on the
circle
 Congruent circles – circles that have the same radius.
 Diameter – the distance across the circle through its
center
Diagram of Important Terms

center

radius
P
diameter

name of circle: P
Definition
 Chord – a segment whose endpoints are points on the
circle.

A
AB is a chord
Definition
 Secant – a line that intersects a circle in two points.

MN is a secant
Definition
 Tangent – a line in the plane of a circle that intersects
the circle in exactly one point.

ST is a tangent
Example 1
 Tell whether the line or segment is best described as a chord, a
secant, a tangent, a diameter, or a radius.

a. AH tangent

b. EI diameter
B E
C F
c. DF chord

I G
d. CE radius

A D
Definition

 Tangent circles – coplanar circles that

intersect in one point
Definition

 Concentric circles – coplanar circles that

have the same center.
Definitions

 Common tangent – a line or segment that is

tangent to two coplanar circles
 Common internal tangent – intersects the segment
that joins the centers of the two circles
 Common external tangent – does not intersect the
segment that joins the centers of the two circles

common external tangent

common internal tangent
Example 2
 Tell whether the common tangents are internal or external.

a. b.

common internal tangents common external tangents

More definitions

 Interior of a circle – consists of the points

that are inside the circle
 Exterior of a circle – consists of the points
that are outside the circle
Definition
 Point of tangency – the point at which a tangent line
intersects the circle to which it is tangent

point of tangency
Perpendicular Tangent Theorem
 If a line is tangent to a circle, then it is perpendicular to
the radius drawn to the point of tangency.

If l is tangent to Q at P, then l  QP.

Perpendicular Tangent Converse
 In a plane, if a line is perpendicular to a radius of a circle
at its endpoint on the circle, then the line is tangent to
the circle.

If l  QP at P, then l is tangent to Q.
 Right Triangles
Pythagorean Theorem

Radius is perpendicular to the

tangent.  < E is a right angle
C
43
E
45
11

D
Example 3

C
Tell whether CE is tangent to D. 43
E
Use the converse of the Pythagorean 45
Theorem to see if the triangle is right. 11

D
11 + 43 ? 45
2 2 2

121 + 1849 ? 2025

1970  2025

CED is not right, so CE is not tangent to D.

Congruent Tangent Segments Theorem

 If two segments from the same exterior point are tangent

to a circle, then they are congruent.

P
S
T

If SR and ST are tangent to P, then SR  ST.

Example 4

AB is tangent to C at B. D
AD is tangent to C at D. x2 + 2

Find the value of x. C A

11
AD = AB
B
x2 + 2 = 11

x2 = 9

x = 3
Definition
 Central angle – an angle whose vertex is the center of a circle.

central angle
Definitions
 Minor arc – Part of a circle that measures less
than 180°
 Major arc – Part of a circle that measures
between 180° and 360°.
 Semicircle – An arc whose endpoints are the
endpoints of a diameter of the circle.
Note : major arcs and semicircles are named with
three points and minor arcs are named
with two points
Diagram of Arcs

A
minor arc: AB

major arc: ABD

D B
C
semicircle: BAD
Definitions
 Measure of a minor arc – the measure of its
central angle
 Measure of a major arc – the difference between
360° and the measure of its associated minor
arc.
Arc Addition Postulate
 The measure of an arc formed by two adjacent arcs is the sum of
the measures of the two arcs.

mABC = mAB + mBC

B
Definition
 Congruent arcs – two arcs of the same circle or of
congruent circles that have the same measure
Arcs and Chords Theorem
 In the same circle, or in congruent circles, two minor arcs are
congruent if and only if their corresponding chords are
congruent.
A

B
AB  BC if and only if AB  BC
C
Perpendicular Diameter Theorem
 If a diameter of a circle is perpendicular to a chord, then the
diameter bisects the chord and its arc.

DE  EF, DG  FG
E
G
D
Perpendicular Diameter Converse
 If one chord is a perpendicular bisector of another chord, then
the first chord is a diameter.

J
M

JK is a diameter of the circle.

Congruent Chords Theorem
 In the same circle, or in congruent circles, two chords are
congruent if and only if they are equidistant from the center.

AB  CD if and only if EF EG. E D

B
F
A
Example 1
 Find the measure of each arc.

a. LM 70°
N L
P 70
b. MNL 360° - 70° = 290°

c. LMN 180° M
Example 2

 Find the measures of the red arcs. Are the arcs congruent?
A
C

41

41
D

mAC = mDE = 41 E

Since the arcs are in the same circle, they are congruent!
Example 3

 Find the measures of the red arcs. Are the arcs congruent?
A
D

81

E
C
mDE = mAC = 81
However, since the arcs are not of the same circle or
congruent circles, they are NOT congruent!
Example 4

B
Find mBC.
(3x + 11)
(2x + 48)

3x + 11 = 2x + 48
A
x = 37

D C
mBC = 2(37) + 48

mBC = 122
Definitions
 Inscribed angle – an angle whose vertex is on a circle
and whose sides contain chords of the circle
 Intercepted arc – the arc that lies in the interior of an
inscribed angle and has endpoints on the angle

intercepted arc

inscribed angle
Measure of an Inscribed Angle Theorem

 If an angle is inscribed in a circle, then its measure is

half the measure of its intercepted arc.

1 C
mADB = mAB D
2 B
Example 1
 Find the measure of the blue arc or angle.

E
a. S R b.
80
F
Q G
T

1
mQTS = 2(90) = 180 mEFG = (80) = 40
2
 Congruent Inscribed Angles Theorem
 If two inscribed angles of a circle intercept
the same arc, then the angles are
congruent.
A

B
C
D
C   D
Example 2

It is given that mE = 75. What is mF?

Since E and F both intercept D

the same arc, we know that the
angles must be congruent.
E
mF = 75
F
H
Definitions
 Inscribed polygon – a polygon whose vertices all lie on a
circle.
 Circumscribed circle – A circle with an inscribed polygon.

The polygon is an inscribed polygon and

the circle is a circumscribed circle.
Inscribed Right Triangle Theorem

 If a right triangle is inscribed in a circle, then the hypotenuse

is a diameter of the circle. Conversely, if one side of an
inscribed triangle is a diameter of the circle, then the triangle
is a right triangle and the angle opposite the diameter is the
right angle.

B is a right angle if and only if AC

is a diameter of the circle. B
C
Inscribed Quadrilateral Theorem

 A quadrilateral can be inscribed in a circle if and only if

its opposite angles are supplementary.

F
C

D
G

D, E, F, and G lie on some circle, C if and only if

mD + mF = 180 and mE + mG = 180.
Example 3
 Find the value of each variable.

D
a. b.
B z
G y 120 E
Q

A 2x
80

F
C
mD + mF = 180 mG + mE = 180
2x = 90
z + 80 = 180 y + 120 = 180
x = 45
z = 100 y = 60
Tangent-Chord Theorem
 If a tangent and a chord intersect at a point on a circle,
then the measure of each angle formed is one half the
measure of its intercepted arc.

B
1
m1 = mAB C
2

1 1
m2 = mBCA 2
2 A
Example 1

Line m is tangent to the circle. Find mRST m

R
102

mRST = 2(102)
S
mRST = 204

T
Try This!

Line m is tangent to the circle. Find m1

1 R
m1 = (150)
2 1
m
m1 = 75

150
T
Example 2

BC is tangent to the circle. Find mCBD. C

A
(9x+20)

5x B
2(5x) = 9x + 20

10x = 9x + 20

x = 20
D
mCBD = 5(20)
mCBD = 100
Interior Intersection Theorem
 If two chords intersect in the interior of a circle, then the
measure of each angle is one half the sum of the
measures of the arcs intercepted by the angle and its
vertical angle.

1 D
m1 = (mCD + mAB) A
2
1
2
1
m2 = (mAD + mBC) C
2 B
Exterior Intersection Theorem

 If a tangent and a secant, two tangents, or

two secants intersect in the exterior of a
circle, then the measure of the angle
formed is one half the difference of the
measures of the intercepted arcs.
Diagrams for Exterior
Intersection Theorem
B
A P
1
2
Q
C R
1
1 m2 = (mPQR - mPR)
m1 = (mBC - mAC) X 2
2
W
3
Z Y
1
m3 = (mXY - mWZ)
2
Example 3
P
 Find the value of x. 106
Q
1
x = (mPS + mRQ)
2 x
1 S
x = (106+174)
2 174 R
1
x= (280)
2

x = 140
Try This!

 Find the value of x. T

40

1 S
x = (mST + mRU) x
2
U
1
x = (40+120)
2
R 120
1
x= (160)
2

x = 80
Example 4

 Find the value of x.

1
72 = (200 - x) 200
2

144 = 200 - x
x 72


x = 56
Example 5

 Find the value of x.

A
mABC = 360 - 92 B

mABC = 268 92 x

1
x= (268 - 92) C
2
1
x = (176)
2

x = 88