Theorems on Arcs and Angles Subtended by them

Theorem: Two arcs of a circle are congruent if the angles subtended by them at
the centre are equal.

Given: AB and PQ are two arcs of a circles with centers C and ∠ACB = ∠PCQ

To prove: arc AB= arc PQ

Construction: Draw CM to bisect ∠BCP

Proof: Fold the circle about CM such that CP coincides with CB.
Since ∠ACB = ∠PCQ , therefore sector PCQ coincide with sector BCA so that CP
falls on CB and CQ falls on CA.

Therefore arc AB = arc QP

Theorem: (Converse of Previous Theorem) The angles subtended at the centre

of a circle by two equal chords are equal

Given: AB and PQ are two equal arcs of a circle.

To prove: ∠ACB = ∠PCQ

Construction: Draw CM bisect ∠BCP

Proof:

Fold the circle about CM such that CP coincides with CB.

Since arc AB = arc PQ, therefore, when P falls on B, Q will fall on A. Thus, sector
PCQ will coincide with sector BCA

Hence, ∠ACB = ∠PCQ

Theorem: In two equal circles if two arcs subtend equal angles at the centres,
the arcs are equal.

Given: Two equal circles with centers C and O and ∠ACB = ∠POQ .

To prove: arc AB = arc PQ

Proof: Apply circle ABD on circle PQR such that centre C falls on centre O and
CA falls along OP.
Since CA = OP

Therefore A falls on P.

Also Since ∠ACB = ∠POQ

Therefore CB falls along OB.

Since CB = OQ

Therefore B falls on Q.

Therefore arc AB coincides with arc PQ

Hence arc AB = arc PQ

Theorem: (Converse of Previous Theorem) In two equal circles, if two arcs are
equal than they subtend equal angles at the centers

Given: In two equal circles with centers C and O.

arc AB = arc PQ

To prove: ∠ACB = ∠POQ

Proof:

Apply circles ABD on circle PQR such that centre C falls on centre O and CA falls
along OP.

Since arc AB = arc PQ, therefore B falls on Q and CB coincides with OQ.

Now, CA coincides with OP and CB coincides with OQ.

Therefore ∠ACB = ∠POQ

Theorem: Equal chords of circle (or of congruent circles) subtend equal angles
at the centre (at the corresponding centers)

Given: AB and CD are two equal chords of a circle with centre O.

To prove: ∠AOB = ∠COD

Proof: In triangles Triangle AOB and Triangle COD

OA=OC (Radii of the semi circle)

OB=OD (Radii of the semi circle)

AB=CD (Given)

Therefore Triangle AOB ≅ Triangle COD (SSS criterion of congruency)

Thus, ∠AOB = ∠COD (cpctc)

(Proof for congruent circles is similar)

Theorem: If the angles subtended by two chords of a circle (or congruent

circles) at the centre (or corresponding centers) are equal, then the chords are
equal.

Given: Two chords AB and CD of a circle with centre O such that ∠AOB = ∠COD

To prove: AB=CD
Proof: In triangles Triangle AOB and Triangle COD

OA = OC and

OB = OD (being radii of the same circles)

∠AOB = ∠COD (given)

Therefore Triangle AOB ≅ Triangle COD (SAS criterion of congruency)

Hence AB = CD (cpctc)

Proof for congruent circles is similar

Theorem: The angle subtended by an arc of a circle at the centre is double the
angle subtended by it at any point on the remaining part of the circle.

Or

The degree measure of an arc of a circle is twice the angle subtended by it at

any point of the alternate segment of the circle with respect to the arc.

Given: A circle with centre O. A chord AB subtends an angle at the centre

making ∠AOB . It also subtends an angle with circle at C making an angle
∠ACB .

To prove: ∠AOB = 2∠ACB

Proof:

Case I: When ∠AOB is an acute angle

In Triangle AOC ,

OA = OC (Radii of the same circle)

∠2 = ∠3 (Since Radii of same circle make isosceles triangle)

But ∠1 = ∠2 + ∠3 (External angle is equal to sum or remote interior angles)

or ∠1 = ∠3 + ∠3 ( Since ∠2 = ∠3 )

or ∠1 = 2∠3 … (1)

Similarly ∠6 = 2∠4 … (2)

Adding (1) and (2), we have

∠1 + ∠6 = 2∠3 + 2∠4 = 2(∠3 + ∠4)

or ∠AOB = 2∠ACB

Case II: When ∠AOB is straight angle

In this case ∠AOB = 180o

AO = OC (Radii of the same circle)

∠2 = ∠3 (Base angle of an isosceles triangle)

But ∠1 = ∠2 + ∠3 (Exterior angle is equal to sum of remote interior angle)

or ∠1 = ∠3 + ∠3 ( Since ∠2 = ∠3 )

or ∠1 = 2∠3 … (1)

Similarly ∠6 = 2∠4 … (2)

Adding (1) and (2), we get

∠1 + ∠6 = 2∠3 + 2∠4

or ∠1 + ∠6 = 2(∠3 + ∠4)

Therefore ∠AOB = 2∠ACB

But ∠AOB = 180o

Therefore 2∠ACB = 180o

180o
or ∠ACB = = 90o which is true as an angle in a semi-circle is a right angle.
2

Case III: When ∠AOB is obtuse reflex angle

In Triangle OAC , we have

OA = OC (Radii of the same circle)

∠3 = ∠2

∠1 = ∠2 + ∠3 (Exterior angle of a triangle is

equal to sum of remote interior angles)

or ∠1 = ∠3 + ∠3 ( Since ∠2 = ∠3 )

or ∠1 = 2∠3 … (1)

Similarly in Triangle BOC , we have ∠6 = 2∠4 … (2)

Adding (1) and (2), we get

∠1 + ∠6 = 2∠3 + 2∠4 = 2(∠3 + ∠4)

or ∠AOB = 2∠ACB
Theorem: The degree measure of an arc of a circle is twice the angle subtended
by it at any point of the alternate segment of the circle with respect to the arc.

Given: An arc PQ of circle C ( O, r ) with a point R in arc PQ other than P or Q.

To prove: Measure of arc PQ = 2 ∠PRQ

Proof:
Case-I When arc PQ is minor arc. See figure (i)

In Triangle PQR,

OP = OR (Radii of the same circle)

∠2 = ∠1 (Base angles of an isosceles triangle)

Now ∠3 = ∠1 + ∠2 (Exterior angle is equal to sum of the remote interior angles)

or ∠3 = ∠2 + ∠2 ( Since ∠1 = ∠2 )

or ∠3 = 2∠2 … (1)

Similarly, ∠4 = 2∠5 … (2)

Adding (1) and (2), we get

∠3 + ∠4 = 2∠2 + 2∠5 = 2(∠2 + ∠5)

or ∠POQ = 2∠PRQ

Case II See figure (ii)

Adding (1) and (2), we get

∠3 + ∠4 = 2∠2 + 2∠5

or 180o = 2(∠2 + ∠5)

or ∠POQ = 2∠PRQ

Case III:

∠3 + ∠4 = (180o − ∠6) + (180o − ∠7)

o 2∠2 + 2∠5 = 360o − (∠6 + ∠7)

or 2(∠2 + ∠5) = 360o − 2∠POQ

or ∠POQ = 2∠PRQ

Hence for all the figures (i), (ii) and (iii)

Measure of arc PQ = 2∠PRQ

or m (PQ)= 2∠PRQ

Theorem: Any two angles in the same segment are equal.

Given: A circle whose centre is O. ∠2 and ∠3 are on the same segment

To prove: ∠2 = ∠3

Construction: Join OA and OB

Proof: arc AB subtends ∠1 at the centre and ∠3 on the remaining part of it.

Therefore ∠1 = 2∠3

or 2∠2 = 2∠3

or ∠2 = ∠3

Theorem: An angle in a semi-circle is a right angle

Given: A circle with centre O and AB is the diameter. ∠ACB is an angle in the
semi-circle

To prove: ∠ACB = 90o

Proof: Since the angle subtended by an arc at the centre is double the angle
subtended by it at the remaining part of the circumference,

Therefore ∠AOB = 2∠ACB

But ∠AOB = 180o ( Since ∠AOB is a straight angle)

2∠ACB = 180o

180o
or ∠ACB = = 90o
2

Theorem: If a line segment joining two points subtends equal angles at two
other points lying on the same side of the line segment, the four points are
con-cyclic, that is they lie on the same circle.

Given: AB is the line segment and C, D are two points lying on the same side of
the line AB such that ∠ACB = ∠ADB

To prove: A,B,C, D are concyclic

Construction: Draw a circle through three non-collinear points A, B and C

Proof:

Case I

If D lies on the circle through A, B and C, then the required result gets proved.

Case-II

If possible, suppose D does not lie on the circle drawn through A, B and C. Then
the circle will intersect AD or AD produced D ' . Join D ' B .

Now, ∠ACB = ∠ADB (Given)

∠ADB = ∠AD ' B (Angles in the same segment are equal)

Therefore ∠ADB = ∠AD ' B

But this is not possible because an exterior angle of a triangle

( Triangle BDD ' in this case) cannot be equal to its interior opposite angle.

Therefore ∠ADB and ∠AD ' B will be equal only if D and D ' coincide.

Therefore D will lie on the circle through A, B and C.

Hence points A, B, C and D are con-cyclic.

Theorem: The sum of either pair of opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral is

180o or the opposite angle o a cyclic quadrilateral are supplementary.

Given: ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral.

To prove:

(i) ∠A + ∠C = 180o (ii) ∠B + ∠D = 180o

Construction: Join AC and BD

Proof:
∠ACB = ∠ADE (Angles in the same segment)

∠BAC = ∠BDE (Angles in the same segment)

Adding the above equation, we have

∠ACB + ∠BAC = ∠ADE + ∠BDC

or ∠ACB + ∠BAC = ∠ADC

Now adding ∠ABC to both sides we get

∠ACB + ∠BAC + ∠ABC = ∠ADC + ∠ABC

or 180o = ∠ADC + ∠ABC (Angle Sum Property of Triangles)

Therefore ∠D + ∠B = 180o

In quadrilateral ABCD

∠A + ∠B + ∠C + ∠D = 360o (Sum of angles of a quadrilateral is 360o )

or (∠A + ∠C ) + (∠B + ∠D) = 360o

or (∠A + ∠C ) + 180o = 360o ( Since ∠D + ∠B = 180o , proved above)

or (∠A + ∠C ) = 360o − 180o

or (∠A + ∠C ) = 180o

Hence (∠A + ∠C ) = 180o and ∠D + ∠B = 180o

Theorem: (Converse of Previous Theorem): If the sum of any pair of opposite

angles of a quadrilateral is 180o , then the quadrilateral is cyclic.
Proof: Quadrilateral ABCD is which (∠A + ∠C ) = 180o

To prove: ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral

Proof: Suppose, If possible, that ABCD is not cycle.

Now draw a circle passing through three non-collinear points A,B and C. Let the
circle meets DC or DC ' produced C ' . Join C ' B .

Since ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral,

∠DC ' B = ∠C

Now, an exterior angle of a triangle cannot be equal to its remote interior angle.
This is ridicule

Thus the circle passing through D, A, B passes through C also. Hence ABCD is a
cyclic quadrilateral.

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