Proof of circle theorems - solutions

There are a number of circle theorems you need to know

Sometimes you can just quote them when you need to give reasons for calculations of angles or lengths
Sometimes you will need to prove them
This exercise will help you see how a proof should be set out

First, make sure you know how to label lines and angles:

Eg. A D The red line is called AD or DA

The angle shaded gold is called ABC or CBA

B C

I
What would you call the red line? EI or IE
What would you call the pink line? HG or GH

E H What would you call the green angle? EIH or HIE

What would you call the gold angle? EFG or GFE

F G

Tangent
You also need to know these terms:

Radius

Diameter Diameter

Tangent
Radius
Centre Centre

Chord
Chord

Draw and label them on this circle:

HS/CM Oct 2020

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These are the circle theorems you need to know:

B
𝑥 The angle subtended at the
centre of a circle is double the
O angle subtended at the
2𝑥 circumference
A
C Angle AOC is double angle ABC

Proof:

B Start by drawing a diameter from B, label the other end D

OB and OC are radii, so the triangle COB is isosceles

O
∴ Angle OBC = OCB (let’s call this “a”)

A ∴ Angle BOC = 180 – 2a (because angles in a triangle add up to 1800 )

C

∴ Angle COD = 2a (because angles on a straight line add up to 180 o)

B
So angle COD is 2x angle CBO
a
b
In a similar way we can make the same argument for triangle OAB:
O
b OB and OA are radii , so triangle AOB is isosceles
a
A
C ∴ Angle OBA = angle OAB (call this “b”)
D
∴ Angle BOA = 180 – 2b (because angles in a triangle add up to 180 o )

∴ Angle AOD = 2b (because angles on a straight line add up to 180 o )

Note: Once you have

So angle AOD is 2x angle ABO
proved a theorem, you
don’t need to prove it
again if you need to use CBA = a + b
it to prove another
theorem. COA = 2a + 2b = 2(a + b ) = 2xCBA as required

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 H
90o The angle subtended at the
J
circumference by a semi-circle
is always 90˚
O
K

Proof:
Angle JOK is 180˚ (because the diameter is a straight line)

So the angle at the circumference is 180 ÷ 2 = 90 o (because the angle at the centre is

double the angle at the circumference)

D G
𝛽
𝛽 Angles subtended at the circumference in
the same segment are equal
𝛼
𝛼 EDF = EGF & DEG = DFG
E
F

Draw in the radii EO and FO

Since the angle at the circumference is half the angle at the centre
Proof:
then
EDF = ½ of EOF
D
G EGF = ½ of EOF

H ∴ Angle EDF = angle EGF as required.

O Now prove that DEG = DFG
EDF = EGF as proved above
E DHE = GHF (because vertically opposite angles are equal)
F ∴ DEG = DFG (because angles in a triangle always add up to 180o )
Or
Since the angle at the circumference is half the angle at the centre
then DEG = ½ of DOG and DFG = ½ of DOG

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 N
P n
180 - m Opposite angles in a cyclic
quadrilateral always add up to
m M
180o

PLM+MNP = 180˚

L LPN + LMN = 180˚

Proof:

Draw lines from the centre of the circle to each of the

vertices of the quadrilateral. Each of these lines is a radius
N
P z w so the quadrilateral has been split into 4 isosceles triangles.
z
y
w
𝑥
M Use a different letter to label the two equal angles in each
triangle. (We have used 𝑥, y, z & w here but you can use
y 𝑥 any letter you like).

L
The internal angles of a quadrilateral add up to 360˚
So 2𝑥 + 2y + 2w + 2z = 360˚
∴ 𝑥 + y + w + z = 180˚

N We can pair these angles in any order we like so

P z
w
z
y (𝑥 + y) + (w + z) = PLM + PNM = 180˚
w M
𝑥
Or
(𝑥 + w) + ( y + z ) = LMN + LPN = 180˚

y 𝑥

L pairs of opposite angles add to make 180˚ as required

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 The perpendicular from any
chord which passes through
O R the centre will bisect the chord

S QS = SR
Q

Proof
Start by drawing radii QO and RO

Angle QSO = 90˚ because OS is perpendicular to

QR and QR is a straight line.

Triangle OQS is congruent to triangle OSR

O because
R
QO = OR
S
And OS is a side on both triangles
Q
And QSO = RSO = 90˚

∴ QS = SR as required

The angle between a radius

and tangent which meet at the
circumference is always 90˚

Proof:
By definition a tangent must be perpendicular to a radius

Alternatively you can think of a tangent as a chord that extends beyond the circle, but has
zero length inside the circle. Then the line from the centre of the circle (the radius) must be
perpendicular to the tangent, as proved in the previous theorem.

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 U
Two tangents will always meet
at the same distance from the
V circle.

TV = UV
T

Proof:

Start by drawing the radii TO and UO

U
Mark in the right-angles OUV and OTV

Draw in the line OV

O
V Triangle OUV is congruent to triangle OTV because:

OU = OT

And angle OUV = angle OTV

T
And OV is a side on both triangles

∴ UV = TV as required

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 The angle between the
T tangent and the side of a
Y circumscribed triangle is
𝜔
𝜌
equal to the opposite internal
𝜔 G angle of the triangle.
𝜌
Z YGT = YZG & ZGN = ZYG
N

Proof:

Call angle YGT a and ZGN b, and label these on the diagram.

Now draw a diameter from G, label the other end X

T and draw a line from X to Y

XGY = a - 90 (because diameter meets tangent at = 90o)

Y
XYG = 90˚ (because angle at circumference in a semi-circle)
G
∴ GXY = 180 – 90 – (a-90) = 180-a
Z
∴ YZG = a (because opposite angles in a cyclic
quadrilateral add up to 180 o)

∴ YZG = YGT as required

N
Now show that GYZ = b

XGZ = 90 - b (because diameter meets tangent at = 90o)

XZG = 90˚ (because angle at circumference in a semi-circle)

∴ GXZ = 180 – 90 – (90-b) = b

∴ GYZ = b (because angles subtended at the
circumference in the same segment are equal)

∴ GYZ = ZGN as required

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In the GCSE exam you may be asked to work out an angle or a length and give a reason. You can quote
any of the circle theorems without proving them first.

For example:

Z The diagram shows quadrilateral WXYZ inscribed

within a circle and a tangent at X.
W
125o The angle XWZ is 125o

Y The diagram is not drawn to scale

a) Write down the size of angle XYZ 55˚

a
Give a reason for your answer
a
x
Opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral add up to 180˚

b) Explain how you know that the line XZ is not a

diameter

The angle subtended at the circumference in a

semicircle is 90˚, angle XWZ is not 90˚ so XZ cannot
be a diameter.

c) Work out the size of angle a 62.5˚

Give a reason for your answer

The angle between the tangent and the side of a
circumscribed triangle is equal to the opposite internal
angle of the triangle, so angle XWZ = angle between
XZ and the tangent = 2a = 125˚, so a = 62.5˚

Example 2
a) What is the size of angle ABC? 55˚

Give a reason for your answer

The angle subtended at the centre of a circle is double
B the angle subtended at the circumference

b) What is the value of y? You must show all your

working out
O Draw a line AC
OAC is an isosceles triangle with angles 110˚, 35˚ and
3y 110o y 35˚.
A ABC is a triangle with angles 55˚, (3y+35˚) and (y+35˚)
C 180=55+ 3y + 35 + y + 35
Y=13.5˚

Not drawn to scale

In questions like this, why do they always say “Not drawn to scale”?
So that students don’t measure the angles but demonstrate that they understand circle theorems and can
use them to work them out.

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