Circle theorems worksheet — GCSE Higher

1.From an external point P, two tangents PA and PB touch a circle with centre O at the points A and B. Angle APB = 46°. C is a point on the major arc AB, the arc on the opposite side of AB from P. Work out the size of angle ACB.

2.Points A, B, C and D lie on a circle with centre O, in that order around the circle, and AC is a diameter. Which of the following circle facts does NOT apply to this diagram?

3.A, B and C are points on a circle with centre O, and AB is a diameter. Prove that angle ACB = 90°, using the fact that triangle OAC and triangle OBC are both isosceles. In the proof, angle OAC = angle OCA = x and angle OBC = angle OCB = y. Which equation correctly expresses the angle sum of triangle ABC in terms of x and y, and leads to the required proof?

4.A, B and C are points on a circle with centre O. B is on the minor arc AC. Angle ABC = 100°. Work out the size of the non-reflex angle AOC.

5.A, B and C are points on a circle with centre O. B is on the major arc AC. Angle AOC = 116°. Work out the size of angle ABC.

6.A, B, C and D are points on a circle, and ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral with the vertices in that order around the circle. Angle ABC = 108° and angle ADC = 72°. Which circle theorem is the reason that angle ABC + angle ADC = 180°?

7.From an external point P, two tangents PA and PB touch a circle with centre O at the points A and B. Angle APB = 50°. Work out the size of angle OAB.

8.A, B and C are points on a circle with centre O, and AC is a diameter of the circle. Work out the size of angle ABC.

9.A skateboard ramp is designed so that a straight rail RT is tangent to a circular curve at the point T, and TC is a chord of the curve from T to another point C on the curve. A second rail continues straight through T on the other side, so that the two rails together form a straight line, and the angle between that second rail and the chord TC is 109°. A support point D is placed on the curve, on the major arc TC. Work out the size of angle TDC, the angle subtended by the chord TC at D.

10.From an external point P, two tangents PA and PB touch a circle with centre O at points A and B. Angle APB = 44°. C is a point on the major arc AB. Using the fact that PA = PB, and the alternate segment theorem, work out the size of angle ACB.

11.ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral, with its vertices in that order around the circle. Angle DAB = 108°. Work out the size of angle BCD.

12.A, B, C and D are points on a circle, with B and D both on the same major arc AC. E lies on the straight line through A and B, beyond B, so that angle CBE = 145°. Work out the size of angle ADC.

13.A circle with centre O has radius 17 cm. A chord AB is drawn so that the perpendicular distance from O to AB is 8 cm. Work out the length of the chord AB.

14.A circle has centre O and radius 13 cm. AB is a chord of the circle, and M is the midpoint of AB. OM is drawn, and OM = 5 cm. Work out the length of AB.

15.From an external point P, two tangents PA and PB touch a circle with centre O at A and B. Angle APB = 40°. Work out the size of angle AOB.