Angles at Centre & Semicircles (OCR GCSE Maths)

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What are circle theorems?

  • You will have learned a lot of angle facts for your GCSE, including angles in polygons and angles with parallel lines
  • Circle Theorems deal with angle facts that occur when lines are drawn within and connected to a circle

What do I need to know?

  • You must be familiar with the names of parts of a circle including radius, diameter, arc, sector, chord, segment and tangent

Parts of a circle, IGCSE & GCSE Maths revision notes

  • To solve some problems you may need to use the angle facts you are already familiar with from triangles, polygons, and parallel lines
  • You may also have to use the formulae for circumference and area, so ensure you’re familiar with them
    • Circumference space equals straight pi cross times diameter   (C = πd)   
    • Area space equals space πr squared    (A = πr2)

Angles at Centre & Circumference

Circle Theorem: The angle subtended by an arc at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference

  • This is one of the most useful circle theorems and forms a basis for many other angle facts within circles
  • In this theorem, the chords (radii) to the centre and the chords to the circumference are both drawn from (subtended by) the ends of the same arc
  • It is an easy circle theorem to spot on a diagram
    STEP 1
    Find any two radii in the circle and follow them to the circumference
    STEP 2
    See if there are lines from those points going to any other point on the circumference
  • If you are asked for a reason in an exam and you use this theorem, use the key phrase;
    • "The angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference"

Centre twice circumference, IGCSE & GCSE Maths revision notes

  • This theorem can also happen when the ‘triangle parts’ overlap:

Triangle overlap, IGCSE & GCSE Maths revision notes

Circle theorem: The angle in a semicircle is a right angle

  • This is a special case of the angle at the centre theorem above
    • The angle on the diameter = 180°
    • The angle at the circumference = 90°
  • It is easy to spot, look for a diameter in the circle and see if it makes the base of a triangle, with its top vertex at the circumference
    • Make sure that you are looking at a diameter by checking it goes through the centre
    • These questions only need half of the circle so they could appear in whole circles or in semicircles only
  • Any angle at the circumference that comes from each end of the diameter in this way will be 90°
  • This is most commonly known as the angle in a semicircle theorem, however if you are asked for a reason in an exam and you use this theorem, use the key phrase; 
    • "The angle in a semicircle is 90°" 
  • Look out for triangles hidden among other lines/shapes within the circle

Right angle in a semicicrcle, IGCSE & GCSE Maths revision notes

Examiner Tip

  • Add anything you can to a diagram you have been given
    • Mark any equal radii and write in any angles and lengths you can work out, even if they don’t seem relevant to the actual question
  • Questions often ask for “reasons” and the names/titles/phrases for each of these is exactly what they are after
    • When asked to “give reasons” aim to quote an angle fact or circle theorem for every angle you find, not just one for the final answer

Worked example

Find the value of x in the diagram below.


Q1-Circle-Theorems-1, IGCSE & GCSE Maths revision notes

 

There are three radii in the diagram, mark these as equal length lines. Notice how they create two isosceles triangles.
Base angles in isosceles triangles are equal, so this means that the angle next to x must be 60°.

Q1-Circle-Theorems-2, IGCSE & GCSE Maths revision notes

 

Using the circle theorem "The angle at the centre subtended by an arc is twice the angle at the circumference", form an equation for x.

2 open parentheses x space plus space 60 close parentheses space equals space 150

Expand the brackets and solve the equation.

table attributes columnalign right center left columnspacing 0px end attributes row cell 2 x space plus space 120 space end cell equals cell space 150 end cell row cell 2 x space end cell equals cell space 30 end cell row cell x space end cell equals cell space 15 end cell end table

bold italic x bold space bold equals bold space bold 15 bold degree

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Amber

Author: Amber

Expertise: Maths

Amber gained a first class degree in Mathematics & Meteorology from the University of Reading before training to become a teacher. She is passionate about teaching, having spent 8 years teaching GCSE and A Level Mathematics both in the UK and internationally. Amber loves creating bright and informative resources to help students reach their potential.