ASCENTLEARNING
Join a weekly class
Skip to learning content
YEAR 10 · GEOMETRY AND PROOF · 20 MIN

Angles at the centre and circumference

Connect angles at a circle’s centre and circumference using the same intercepted arc.

In this lesson

Before you start
  • Circle centre and circumference
  • Angle sums
01 / LEARN

Understand the idea.

The same arc matters

The intercepted arc is the arc between an angle’s endpoints that does not contain its circumference vertex. The angle at the centre standing on that arc is twice the angle at the circumference.

First locate the vertex, then choose the opposite arc. A vertex on the major arc sees the minor arc; a vertex on the minor arc sees the major arc and therefore uses the reflex central angle.

∠⁢A⁢O⁢B=2⁢∠⁢A⁢C⁢B

Angles in one segment

Two circumference angles standing on the same chord from the same segment intercept the same arc, so they are equal. Moving a vertex to the other side of the chord changes the intercepted arc.

A diameter subtends a semicircle of 180∘ at the centre, giving a circumference angle of 90∘. Conversely, a chord subtending a right angle on the circle is a diameter; the right angle must belong to that chord.

02 / WORKED EXAMPLES

See the method in action.

EXAMPLE 01

Central to circumference

A minor central angle AOB is 100°. C lies on the major arc AB. Find ∠ACB.

Worked solution

  1. 1

    Identify the arc opposite C.

    central angle on minor arc ⁢A⁢B=100∘

    C lies on the major arc, so angle ACB intercepts the minor arc AB.

  2. 2

    Halve that central angle.

    ∠⁢A⁢C⁢B=100∘2

    Centre and circumference angles stand on the same intercepted arc.

  3. 3

    Evaluate the angle.

    ∠⁢A⁢C⁢B=50∘

    The circumference angle is half the central angle.

Answer

50°

EXAMPLE 02

Vertex on the other arc

A minor central angle AOB is 140°. D lies on the minor arc AB. Find ∠ADB.

Worked solution

  1. 1

    Choose the arc opposite D.

    D lies on the minor arc, so angle ADB intercepts the major arc AB.

  2. 2

    Find the reflex central angle.

    360∘−140∘=220∘

    The major and minor arcs together form a complete circle.

  3. 3

    Halve the reflex angle.

    ∠⁢A⁢D⁢B=220∘2=110∘

    The circumference angle stands on the major arc, whose central angle is 220 degrees.

Answer

110°

03 / YOUR TURN

Try it yourself.

Check your understanding

AB is a diameter and C lies elsewhere on the circumference. Find ∠ACB.

Show answer & reasoning

90°

The arc AB opposite C is a semicircle because AB is a diameter. Therefore ∠⁢A⁢C⁢B=180∘2=90∘.

Keep practising

6 worksheet questions · 13 marks

Read the questions online
  1. Minor central angle AOB is 84∘. C lies on the major arc AB. Find ∠⁢A⁢C⁢B.
    2 marks
  2. ∠⁢A⁢C⁢B=37∘ subtends minor arc AB. Find the corresponding minor central angle.
    2 marks
  3. Minor central angle AOB is 120∘. D lies on the minor arc AB. Find ∠⁢A⁢D⁢B.
    2 marks
  4. C and D lie on the same arc of chord AB. ∠⁢A⁢C⁢B=46∘. Find ∠⁢A⁢D⁢B.
    2 marks
  5. AB is a diameter of a circle and C is another point on the circle. ∠⁢C⁢A⁢B=32∘. Find ∠⁢A⁢B⁢C.
    2 marks
  6. An inscribed angle subtends a chord and is 90∘. Explain why the chord is a diameter.
    3 marks
Read the worked solutions

Equivalent correct methods earn the corresponding marks. Include units where asked.

  1. Minor central angle AOB is 84∘. C lies on the major arc AB. Find ∠⁢A⁢C⁢B.
    2 marks

    Same minor arc:842=42.

    42∘
  2. ∠⁢A⁢C⁢B=37∘ subtends minor arc AB. Find the corresponding minor central angle.
    2 marks

    Double 37.

    74∘
  3. Minor central angle AOB is 120∘. D lies on the minor arc AB. Find ∠⁢A⁢D⁢B.
    2 marks

    Opposite arc is major:360−120=240.

    2402=120.

    120∘
  4. C and D lie on the same arc of chord AB. ∠⁢A⁢C⁢B=46∘. Find ∠⁢A⁢D⁢B.
    2 marks

    They are angles in the same segment.

    46∘
  5. AB is a diameter of a circle and C is another point on the circle. ∠⁢C⁢A⁢B=32∘. Find ∠⁢A⁢B⁢C.
    2 marks

    ∠⁢A⁢C⁢B=90∘.

    180−90−32=58.

    58∘
  6. An inscribed angle subtends a chord and is 90∘. Explain why the chord is a diameter.
    3 marks

    The corresponding central angle is 180∘.

    The endpoints are opposite ends of a diameter.

    Its intercepted arc is a semicircle.
Checking saved progress…
Curriculum reference & lesson scope

Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum

Angle and similarity reasoning; congruent/similar triangles in proofs; chords, radii and tangents; angles at the centre and circumference; circle theorems and their applications; connected deductive arguments; construction/spatial algorithms; testing and justifying solutions.

Official curriculum source ↗

Save your next step.

Create a free account to save your learning progress. Lessons and downloads stay free, with or without an account.

Create free account