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Proof of the Circle Theorems worksheet

10 GCSE practice questions with answers, free to print. Every sheet is generated, so you can make a fresh one whenever you need it.

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  1. 5 marks

    \(S\), \(T\) and \(U\) are points on a circle, centre \(O\).

    \(ST\) is a diameter.

    A circle with centre O. ST is a diameter and U is a point on the circle, joined to S, to T and to O. The angle at S is marked x and the angle at T is marked y.xySTUO
    (a)

    Explain why \(OS = OU\).

    (b)

    Explain why angle \(OUS = x\) and angle \(OUT = y\).

    (c)

    Hence prove that angle \(SUT = 90^\circ\).

  2. 5 marks

    \(TA\) and \(TB\) are tangents to a circle with centre \(O\), touching the circle at \(A\) and at \(B\).

    A circle with centre O. A and B are points on the circle, and the tangents at A and at B meet at T. The radii OA and OB are drawn, and OT joins the centre to T.ABTO
    (a)

    State the size of angle \(OAT\), and give a reason for your answer.

    (b)

    Prove that triangle \(OAT\) and triangle \(OBT\) are congruent.

    (c)

    Hence explain why \(TA = TB\).

  3. 6 marks

    \(E\), \(F\) and \(G\) are points on a circle, centre \(O\).

    The line \(GO\) is continued to meet the circle again at \(H\).

    A circle with centre O. E, F and G are on the circle. G is joined to E and to F, and the line from G through O is continued to meet the circle again at H. The radii OE and OF are drawn. The angle EGO is marked x and the angle OGF is marked y.xyEFGHO
    (a)

    Explain why angle \(OEG = x\).

    (b)

    Find the size of angle \(EOH\), in terms of \(x\).

    (c)

    Hence prove that angle \(EOF = 2 \times\) angle \(EGF\).

  4. 4 marks

    \(W\), \(X\), \(Y\) and \(Z\) are points on a circle, centre \(O\).

    \(Y\) and \(Z\) are on the same arc.

    A circle with centre O. W and X are on the circle with the radii OW and OX drawn, and the angle at the centre is marked z. Y and Z are both on the major arc, each joined to W and to X. The angle at Y is marked x and the angle at Z is marked y.zxyWXYZO
    (a)

    Write down \(z\) in terms of \(x\), and \(z\) in terms of \(y\).

    Give a reason for your answers.

    (b)

    Hence prove that angle \(WYX = \) angle \(WZX\).

  5. 5 marks

    \(W\), \(X\), \(Y\) and \(Z\) are points on a circle, centre \(O\).

    A circle with centre O and the quadrilateral WXYZ drawn with all four vertices on the circle. The radii OX and OZ are drawn. The angle at W is marked x and the angle at Y is marked y.xyWXYZO
    (a)

    Write down the angle \(XOZ\) on the same side of \(XZ\) as \(Y\), in terms of \(x\).

    Give a reason for your answer.

    (b)

    Write down the other angle \(XOZ\), in terms of \(y\).

    (c)

    Hence prove that \(x + y = 180^\circ\).

  6. 5 marks

    \(S\), \(T\) and \(U\) are points on a circle, centre \(O\).

    \(ST\) is a diameter.

    A circle with centre O. ST is a diameter and U is a point on the circle, joined to S, to T and to O. The angle at S is marked x and the angle at T is marked y.xySTUO
    (a)

    Explain why \(OS = OU\).

    (b)

    Explain why angle \(OUS = x\) and angle \(OUT = y\).

    (c)

    Hence prove that angle \(SUT = 90^\circ\).

  7. 5 marks

    \(TA\) and \(TB\) are tangents to a circle with centre \(O\), touching the circle at \(A\) and at \(B\).

    A circle with centre O. A and B are points on the circle, and the tangents at A and at B meet at T. The radii OA and OB are drawn, and OT joins the centre to T.ABTO
    (a)

    State the size of angle \(OAT\), and give a reason for your answer.

    (b)

    Prove that triangle \(OAT\) and triangle \(OBT\) are congruent.

    (c)

    Hence explain why \(TA = TB\).

  8. 6 marks

    \(E\), \(F\) and \(G\) are points on a circle, centre \(O\).

    The line \(GO\) is continued to meet the circle again at \(H\).

    A circle with centre O. E, F and G are on the circle. G is joined to E and to F, and the line from G through O is continued to meet the circle again at H. The radii OE and OF are drawn. The angle EGO is marked x and the angle OGF is marked y.xyEFGHO
    (a)

    Explain why angle \(OEG = x\).

    (b)

    Find the size of angle \(EOH\), in terms of \(x\).

    (c)

    Hence prove that angle \(EOF = 2 \times\) angle \(EGF\).

  9. 4 marks

    \(A\), \(B\), \(C\) and \(D\) are points on a circle, centre \(O\).

    \(C\) and \(D\) are on the same arc.

    A circle with centre O. A and B are on the circle with the radii OA and OB drawn, and the angle at the centre is marked z. C and D are both on the major arc, each joined to A and to B. The angle at C is marked x and the angle at D is marked y.zxyABCDO
    (a)

    State \(z\) in terms of \(x\), and \(z\) in terms of \(y\).

    Give a reason for your answers.

    (b)

    Hence prove that angle \(ACB = \) angle \(ADB\).

  10. 5 marks

    \(W\), \(X\), \(Y\) and \(Z\) are points on a circle, centre \(O\).

    A circle with centre O and the quadrilateral WXYZ drawn with all four vertices on the circle. The radii OX and OZ are drawn. The angle at W is marked x and the angle at Y is marked y.xyWXYZO
    (a)

    Write down the angle \(XOZ\) on the same side of \(XZ\) as \(Y\), in terms of \(x\).

    Give a reason for your answer.

    (b)

    Write down the other angle \(XOZ\), in terms of \(y\).

    (c)

    Hence prove that \(x + y = 180^\circ\).

Answers

  1. (a) \(OS\) and \(OU\) are both radii of the circle, so they are equal.
    (b) Triangles \(OSU\) and \(OTU\) are isosceles, and base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal.
    (c) The angles of triangle \(SUT\) give \(x + y + (x + y) = 180^\circ\), so \(x + y = 90^\circ\), and angle \(SUT = x + y\).
  2. (a) \(90^\circ\). \(TA\) is a tangent and \(OA\) is the radius at the point of contact, so the angle between them is a right angle.
    (b) RHS: both have a right angle, the hypotenuse \(OT\) is common, and \(OA = OB\) as radii.
    (c) \(TA\) and \(TB\) are corresponding sides of congruent triangles, so they are equal.
  3. (a) \(OE\) and \(OG\) are radii, so triangle \(OEG\) is isosceles and its base angles are equal.
    (b) Angle \(EOH = 2x\)
    (c) Angle \(FOH = 2y\) in the same way, so angle \(EOF = 2x + 2y = 2(x + y)\), and angle \(EGF = x + y\).
  4. (a) \(z = 2x\) and \(z = 2y\). Both \(Y\) and the centre stand on arc \(WX\), and the angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference.
    (b) \(2x = z = 2y\), so \(x = y\), which means angle \(WYX = \) angle \(WZX\).
  5. (a) \(2x\), because the angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference standing on the same arc \(XYZ\).
    (b) The other angle \(XOZ\) is \(2y\), standing on arc \(XWZ\).
    (c) The two angles at \(O\) make a full turn, so \(2x + 2y = 360^\circ\) and \(x + y = 180^\circ\).
  6. (a) \(OS\) and \(OU\) are both radii of the circle, so they are equal.
    (b) Triangles \(OSU\) and \(OTU\) are isosceles, and base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal.
    (c) The angles of triangle \(SUT\) give \(x + y + (x + y) = 180^\circ\), so \(x + y = 90^\circ\), and angle \(SUT = x + y\).
  7. (a) \(90^\circ\). \(TA\) is a tangent and \(OA\) is the radius at the point of contact, so the angle between them is a right angle.
    (b) RHS: both have a right angle, the hypotenuse \(OT\) is common, and \(OA = OB\) as radii.
    (c) \(TA\) and \(TB\) are corresponding sides of congruent triangles, so they are equal.
  8. (a) \(OE\) and \(OG\) are radii, so triangle \(OEG\) is isosceles and its base angles are equal.
    (b) Angle \(EOH = 2x\)
    (c) Angle \(FOH = 2y\) in the same way, so angle \(EOF = 2x + 2y = 2(x + y)\), and angle \(EGF = x + y\).
  9. (a) \(z = 2x\) and \(z = 2y\). Both \(C\) and the centre stand on arc \(AB\), and the angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference.
    (b) \(2x = z = 2y\), so \(x = y\), which means angle \(ACB = \) angle \(ADB\).
  10. (a) \(2x\), because the angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference standing on the same arc \(XYZ\).
    (b) The other angle \(XOZ\) is \(2y\), standing on arc \(XWZ\).
    (c) The two angles at \(O\) make a full turn, so \(2x + 2y = 360^\circ\) and \(x + y = 180^\circ\).

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