Shape & Space Circles topic notes
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The parts of a circle
centre - the point within the circle where the distance to points on the circumference is
the same.
radius - the distance from the centre to any point on the circle. The diameter is twice the
radius.
circumference(perimeter) - the distance around a circle.
chord is a straight line joining two points on the circumference.
diameter - a chord(of max. length) passing through the centre
sector - a region enclosed by two radii and an arc.
segment - the region enclosed by a chord and an arc of the circle.
tangent - a straight line making contact at one point on the circumference, such that the
radius from the centre is at right angles to the line.
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Shape & Space Circles topic notes
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Subtended angles
When a chord subtends an angle on the circumference of a circle, the angle subtended at
the centre of the circle is twice the angle.
A diameter subtends a right-angle at the circumference
angle XPZ = 90 deg.
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Shape & Space Circles topic notes
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Angles subtended by a chord onto the circumference of a circle are equal.
angle ADB = angle ACB
Chords
The line joining the centre of a circle and the mid-point of a chord is perpendicular to the
chord. The chord is bisected into two equal halves.
XP = PY
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Shape & Space Circles topic notes
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Tangents
The tangents to a circle from a point are equal in length.
AP = BP
also,
the tangents subtend equal angles at the centre of the circle
angle POA = angle POB
and,
the angles between the tangents and the line joining the
centre of the circle and the point are equal.
angle APO = angle BPO
note : Triangle APO and triangle BPO are congruent.
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Shape & Space Circles topic notes
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The angle between a tangent and a chord
The angle between a tangent and a chord is equal to the angle subtended by the chord in
the opposite segment.
angle ZPY = angle PXY
Cyclic quadrilaterals
Opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral add up to 180 deg.
As with all quadrilaterals, the sum of the interior angles = 360 deg.
Any exterior angle of a cyclic quadrilateral equals the interior opposite angle.
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