CIRCLES VOCABULARY
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Circle
The set of points some fixed distance [ = radius ]
from another point [called the center ]
Diameter
A line [or the distance] between two points on the circle A line connecting two points on a circle
which passes thru the center of the circle
Tangent
A line external to a circle which touches
the circle at ONLY one point
Segment
An area internal to a circle which is formed
by a chord or secant and the circle itself
It must exclude the center of the circle
Sector
An area bounded by 2 radii and the arc between
the end points of the radii
Central Angle
Angle internal to a circle with vertex = center
and end points on the circle
An angle formed by two radii
A Central Angle = The measure the arc it subtendeds
Inscribed Angle
Angle internal to a circle with vertex on the circle
and end points on the circle
An internal angle formed by 2 chords
with a common point
An Inscribed Angle = 1/2 the measure of the arc it subtends
Complementary Angles
Angles which add to 90 degrees
Supplementary Angles
Angles which add to 180 degrees
Acute Angle ; is < 90 degrees
Obtuse Angle ; is > 90 & < 180 degrees
Straight Angle ; is = 180 degrees
Reflex Angle ; is > 180 degrees
Measure of an Angle
The degree or radian measure of an angle
Circumscribed Circle
A circle external to a polygon passing thru the
vertices of the polygon
Inscribed Circle
A circle internal to a polygon which is
tangent to all the sides of the polygon
Concentric Circles
Circles with the same center but different radii
Locus
A set of points satisfying some rule or condition.
For example; An Ellipse is the locus of points the
sum of whose distances to 2 other points [ Foci ]
are are equal
Unit Circle
A circle with a radius of one unit
A powerful tool of analysis in Trigonometry
Radius
A line [or the distance] from the center of a circle to
the circle itself
Chord
Secant
A line beginning external to a circle which
intercepts the circle at two points
Circumference of a Circle
The measure of the length of the circle
The "perimeter" of a circle
= 2 times Pi times the radius OR Pi times diameter
Area of a Circle
= Pi times radius squared
Pi = ~ 22 / 7 or 3.14159
Semicircle
The arc subtended by a diameter
Arc
A part of the circumference of a circle
A subset of the locus of points of the circle
Intercepted Arc / Subtended Arc
Arc cut by a central, inscribed or external angle
Major Arc
The larger of the 2 arcs cut by chords / secants / tangents
Sometimes defined as an arc > 180 degrees
Minor Arc
The smaller of the 2 arcs cut by chords / secants / tangents
Sometimes defined as an arc < 180 degrees
Measure of an Arc
The degree or radian measure of an arc
Equals the measure of the central angle which subtends it
Length of an Arc
The part of the circumference defined by the arc's end points
Point of Tangency
The point where a tangent and radius meet on the circle
Common Tangents
Tangents common to two different circles
There may be 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 common tangents
If the circles touch at 0, 1, or 2 points there are
4, 3 or 2 common tangents respectively
If an internal circle touches the outer circle at 1 point
there will be only 1 common tangent
If one circle is within the other circle there are
0 common tangents
External Tangent
Common Tangent of 2 circles which does not cross
the line connecting the two centers
Internal Tangent
Common Tangent of 2 circles which crosses the line
connecting the two centers
Vertex of an Angle
The point where the sides of an angle meet
Line Segment
Part of a line with end points well defined
Example; Intersecting chords create 4 line segments
Dec 27, 2010
PFreda, Assumption College