PROPERTIES OF ANGLES IN CIRCLES

Angles At Centre and Circumference

P

An angle at the centre of a circle is an angle with its vertex at the centre and two radii as its sides.

AQC
Q

C A

An angle at the circumference is an angle with its vertex at the circumference of the circle and two chords as its sides.

APC

Example: Name the angles that are subtended by arc PQ at the centre and at the circumference respectively. a) b) S
x O y
P g e f R O

Q
Q

Angles at the centre y = ________ Angle at the circumference = ________ x

Angles at the centre e = ________ Angle at the circumference = ________ f

Angles Subtended By Same Arc

y x z

Angles subtended at the circumference by the same arc are equal.

P Q

x = y = z because these angles are subtended by the same arc PQ (a.k.aangles in the same segment )

Example: Name the angles that are of the same size. a) b)

x
y

O u z

O x

x=y

y=z

Angles Subtended By Arcs Of Same Length

The angles subtended at the circumference by arcs of the same length are equal.
B Q

When length of minor arc AC = length of minor arc PR, then x = y. When x = y, then length of minor arc AC = length of minor arc PR.

The angles subtended at the centre by arcs of the same length are equal.
A B x O y P Q

When length of minor arc ab = length of minor arc PQ, then x = y. When x = y, then length of minor arc AB = length of minor arc PQ.

Example: Name the angles that are of the same size in each of the following. a) b)
y z O x
u O v w

x=y

v=w

Relationship Between Angles

Angle subtended by an arc at its centre, is twice the angle at the circumference.

Angle at the centre = 2 x Angle at the circumference

Example:

x O 2x

O 2x

Example:
x

O O x 2x 2x

Example: Find the value of x. a)

O x

35

x = 2 x 35 x = 70

b)

x = 2 x 120
120 x O

x = 240

c)

60 x= 2
O 60

x = 30
x

d)

x O

280 x= 2
280

x = 140

Angles In A Semicircle
Any angle at the circumference of a semicircle is a right angle (90). Example:
P

Since AOB is the diameter; then APB = AQB = 90 .

A O B

Example: Find the value of x. a)

x = 180 - 90 - 38
38 x

x = 58

b)

180 - 90 x= 2
x = 45

c)

42

x = 90 - 42 x = 48

Solving Problems
Example: 1)

In the figure, O is the centre of the circle. Find the value of x.

O X

110 B

Reflex angle AOC = 2 x 110 = 220

x = 360 - 220 x = 140

2)
D

In the figure, O is the centre of the circle. Find the value of x.

C

60 B

ABC = 90 CBD = 90 - 60 = 30

x = 30
(Angles in the same segment)

3)
C B T x A 30 O

In the figure, O is the centre of the circle. ATC and BOD are straight lines. Find the value of x.
BOC = 2 x 50 = 60
D

x = 180 - 60 = 120

4)
T S 50

In the figure, SOQ is the diameter of the circle with centre O. Find the value of x.

O x 110 R Q P

RSQ = 50
QRS = 90
RQS = 180 - 90 - 50 = 40 x = 180 -110 - 40 = 30