Category Archives: Circle Theorems

February 25, 2026 · 1:22 pm

Complex Locus Question

My Year 12 Specialist students are working on complex loci again. The following type of question always creates confusion.

$arg(z-w_1)$ is the angle the vector from $w_1$ to $z$ makes with the positive $x-$ axis, likewise for $arg(z-w_2)$ .

I am going to plot a possible $z$ and try to see the geometry that works.

We want $arg(z-w_1)-arg(z-w_2)=\frac{\pi}{6}$

I am going to take advantage of some triangle geometry

Using the External Angle Theorem, we know $\alpha=\beta+\theta$

$\begin{equation*}arg(z-w_1)-arg(z-w_2)=(\alpha+\frac{\pi}{2})-(\beta+\frac{\pi}{2}0=\alpha-\beta=\theta\end{equation}$

Therefore $\theta=\frac{\pi}{6}$

So we want all of the $z$ values that have an angle of $\frac{\pi}{6}$

Now we are going to use some circle geometry -The angle at the circumference subtended by the same arc are congruent. So we need to find a circle that has those three points ( $z, w_1$ and $w_2$ ) on the circumference.

Hence the locus is

Now we need to find the radius and centre of the circle.

Using another circle theorem, the angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference.

The triangle must be equilateral (it is isosceles with a vertex angle of $\frac{\pi}{3}$ )

Hence the radius is 2.

$h=\sqrt{2^2-1^2}=\sqrt{3}$

Hence the centre is $(-\sqrt{3}+1, 0)$

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Filed under Circle Theorems, Complex Numbers, Geometry, Interesting Mathematics, Pythagoras, Sketching Complex Regions, Year 12 Specialist Mathematics

Tagged as complex loci

November 16, 2025 · 5:54 am

Geometry Circle Question

In the diagram below, $A, B, C$ and $D$ lie on the circle with centre $O$ . If $\angle{DBC} = 41^{\circ}$ and $\angle{ACD} = 53^{\circ}$ , determine with reasoning $\angle{BAC}$ and $\angle{AOB}$

We know $OA=OB=OD$ – radii of the circle.

Which means, $\Delta{AOB}$ is isosceles and $\angle{OAB}=\angle{OBA}$ – equal angles isosceles triangle.

$\angle{AOD}=2\angle{ACD}$ – angle at the centre twice the angle at the circumference.

$\angle{AOB}=106^{\circ}$

This means $\angle{AOB}=74^{\circ}$ – angles on a straight line are supplementary

$\angle{OAD}=\angle{ODA}=37^{\circ}$ – equal angles isosceles triangle and the angle sum of a triangle.

$\angle{DBA}=\angle{DCA}=53^{\circ}$ – angle at the circumference subtended by the same arc are congruent.

$\angle{CAD}=\angle{CBD}=41^{\circ}$ – angles at the circumference subtended by the same arc are congruent.

$\angle{OAB}=53^{\circ}$ – equal angle isosceles triangle

Hence $\angle{BAC}=12^{\circ}$

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Filed under Circle Theorems, Finding an angle, Geometry, Year 11 Specialist Mathematics

Tagged as circle theorems, geometry, Year 11 Specialist Mathematics

May 24, 2025 · 10:02 am

Circle Geometry Problem

In the diagram, points $A, B, C, D$ and $Q$ lie on a circle centre $O$ , radius $6$ cm and diameter $BQ, \angle{ABQ}=50^\circ, AB$ is parallel to $DO$ and point $P$ lies on diameter $BQ$ such that $OP=DP=4$ cm.

(a) Find $\angle{BCD}$

(b) Determine the length of $PC$ .

$\angle{BOD}=180^\circ-50^\circ=130^\circ$ (Co-interior angles in parallel lines are supplementary.)

$\angle{BCD}=\frac{1}{2}\times 130=65^\circ$ (Angles subtended by the same arc. The angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference.)

$\angle{BCD}=65^\circ.$

Let $PC=x$

From the intersecting chord theorem

$\begin{equation*}4\times x=2\times 10\end{equation}$

$\begin{equation*}4x=20\end{equation}$

$\begin{equation*}x=5\end{equation}$

$PC=5cm$

A chord $AB$ of a circle $O$ is extended to $C$ . The straight line bisecting $\angle{OAB}$ meets the circle at $E$ . Let $\angle{BAE}=x$ . Prove that $EB$ bisects $\angle{OBC}$ .

$\angle{BAO}=2x$ ( $AE$ bisects $\angle {BAO}$ )

$\Delta AOB$ is isosceles ( $AO=B0$ radii of the circle)

$\angle{ABO}=2x$ (Equal angles in isosceles triangle)

Therefore $\angle {AOB}=180^\circ-4x$ (angle sum of a triangle)

$\angle {BEA}=90^\circ-2x$ (angle at the circumference is half angle at the centre)

$\angle{ABE}=180^\circ-x-(90^\circ-2x)=90^\circ+x$ (angle sum of a triangle)

$\angle{CBE}=180^\circ-(90^\circ+x)=90^\circ-x$ (angles on a straight line)

$\angle{OBE}=90^\circ+x-2x=90^\circ-x$

$\angle{OBE}=\angle{CBE}$

Hence, $BE$ bisects $\angle{OBC}$

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Filed under Circle Theorems, Geometry, Uncategorized, Year 11 Specialist Mathematics

Tagged as circle geometry, circle theorems

March 18, 2025 · 6:04 am

Intersecting Secant Theorem

$CD$ is a tangent to the circle.

Prove $c^2=a(a+b)$

I am going to add two chords to the circle

$\angle{BDC}=\angle{CAD}$ (angles in alternate segments are congruent)

$\angle{BCD}=\angle{DCA}$ (shared angle)

$\therefore \Delta BDC\cong \Delta{DAC}$ (AA)

Hence

$\frac{DC}{AC}=\frac{BC}{DC}$ (Corresponding sides in similar triangles)

$\frac{c}{a+b}=\frac{a}{c}$

$\therefore c^2=a(a+b)$

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Filed under Circle Theorems, Geometry, Year 11 Specialist Mathematics

Tagged as circle geometry, Intersecting Secants Theorem

March 17, 2025 · 12:33 pm

Circle Geometry Question 2

One of my Year 11 Specialist students had this question

Triangle $ABC$ touches the given circle at Points $P, Q, R$ and $S$ only. The secant $BW$ touches the circle at $V$ and $W$ .

Diagram not drawn to scale

(a) Determine the lengths of the line segments marked $x, y$ and $z$ , leaving your answers as exact values.

(b) If the length of the line segment $QW$ is 4 units, determine the exact radius of the circle.

(a) We are going to use the Intersecting Secant Theorem – the tangent version

Hence, we have

$\begin{equation*}30^2=25(25+x+6)\end{equation}$

$\begin{equation*}900=25(31+x)\end{equation}$

$\begin{equation*}x=5\end{equation}$

Then we can use the intersecting chord theorem to find $y$ .

$\begin{equation*}10\times y=6 \times x\end{equation}$

$\begin{equation*}10y=30\end{equation}$

$\begin{equation*}y=3\end{equation}$

Back to the Intersecting Secant Theorem to find $z$

$\begin{equation*}z^2=4\times 17\end{equation}$

$\begin{equation*}z=2\sqrt{17}\end{equation}$

(b)

$QW$ is part of a 3-4-5 triangle, therefore $\angle{Q}=90^\circ$

This is definitely the case of the diagram not being drawn to scale. If $\angle{Q}=90^\circ$ , then the purple line must be the diameter.

We can use pythagoras to find the length of the diameter

$\begin{equation*}(2r)^2=13^2+4^2\end{equation}$

$\begin{equation*}4r^2=185\end{equation}$

$\begin{equation*}r=\frac{\sqrt{285}}{2}\end{equation}$

The radius of the circle is $\frac{\sqrt{285}}{2}$

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Filed under Circle Theorems, Geometry, Pythagoras, Year 11 Specialist Mathematics

Tagged as intersecting chord theorem, intersecting secant theorem, pythagoras

March 9, 2025 · 11:26 am

Circle Geometry Question

In the above diagram $O$ is the centre of the larger circle. $A, B,D$ and $E$ are points on the circumference of the larger circle. $A, C, E$ and $0$ are points on the circumference of the smaller circle. Show that $\angle{CAB}=\angle{ABC}$ . $AB, AC$ and $BC$ are straight lines.