New
New
Year 10
Higher

The angle in a semicircle is a right angle

I can derive and use the theorem: the angle in a semicircle is a right angle.

New
New
Year 10
Higher

The angle in a semicircle is a right angle

I can derive and use the theorem: the angle in a semicircle is a right angle.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A theorem is a statement that can be demonstrated to be true by accepted mathematical operations and arguments
  2. Theorems can be thought of as puzzles to solve, you are showing how to find a result
  3. In order to use this theorem, you may need to draw a diagram or add more information to an existing one

Common misconception

Pupils may over-generalise the circle theorem by assume that all triangles that are inscribed in a circle are right-angled.

The triangle is only right-angled if one of its angles is subtended by the diameter. This also means that if the triangle is right-angled, then its hypotenuse is the diameter of the circle.

Keywords

  • Subtended - An angle can be subtended by a line segment or curve. The legs of the subtended angle meet the endpoints of the line segment or curve.

  • Arc - An arc of a circle is part of the circle’s circumference.

  • Chord - A chord is any line segment joining two points on the circumference of a circle.

  • Diameter - The diameter of a circle is any line segment that starts and ends on the circumference of the circle and passes through the centre of the circle.

The lesson demonstrates how this circle theorem could be explored practically by using a circular geoboard and using dynamic geometry software. Pupils may wish to explore these further for themselves.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
A chord has endpoints of A and B. Where on the circle must points A and B lie?
At the centre of the circle
On a tangent to the circle
Correct answer: On the circumference of the circle
Inside the circle
Outside the circle
Q2.
The size of the angle labelled $$x$$° on this 20-point geoboard is °.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 108, 108°, 108 degrees
Q3.
The size of the angle labelled $$y$$° on this 20-point geoboard is °.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 36, 36°, 36 degrees
Q4.
The size of the angle labelled $$z$$° on this 20-point geoboard is °.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 54, 54°, 54 degrees
Q5.
What is the size of the angle subtended by the chord AC (in degrees)?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 36, 36°, 36 degrees
Q6.
The size of the angle labelled $$m$$° is °.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 68, 68°, 68 degrees

6 Questions

Q1.
Find the size of angle $$a$$° on this 8-point geoboard (in degrees).
An image in a quiz
20°
Correct answer: 45°
360°
Q2.
Find the size of angle $$b$$° on this 8-point geoboard (in degrees).
An image in a quiz
$$180° - 45°$$
Correct answer: $$\big({{180° - 45°}\over2}\big)$$
$$45°\over2$$
Correct answer: 67.5°
135°
Q3.
The size of the angle labelled $$c$$° on this 8-point geoboard is °.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 135, 135°, 135 degrees
Q4.
The size of the angle $$(b+d)$$° on this 8-point geoboard is °.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 90, 90°, 90 degrees
Q5.
The size of the angle labelled $$x$$° is °.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 76, 76°, 76 degrees
Q6.
Chord AB has length of 4 cm. The length of chord BC is cm (2 d.p.).
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 23.66, 23.66 cm