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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Proving - Inscribed Triangle, Circle

Category: Plane Geometry

"Published in Newark, California, USA"

Given: ABC inscribed in circle O

Prove: m∠BAC = ½ m(arc BC)


Photo by Math Principles in Everyday Life

Solution:

Consider the given figure and we will label further as follows


Photo by Math Principles in Everyday Life

Proof:

1. Statement: From point A, draw a line that passes through the center of a circle.

    Reason: Line AO will be used later to get m∠BOC.

2. Statement: Draw radius OB and let m∠BAO = x.

    Reason: Radius OB will be used to create an isosceles ∆BOA and x as the base angle.

3. Statement: OB  OA and m∠BAO  m∠OBA.

    Reason: OB and OA are the radius of a circle and the two sides of an isosceles triangles are congruent. The two base angles of an isosceles triangles are congruent.

4. Statement: m∠BOA = 180° - 2x

    Reason: The sum of the three angles of a triangle is always equal to 180°.

5. Statement: m∠BOD = 180° - (180° - 2x) = 2x

    Reason: The sum of supplementary angles is always 180°. m∠BOA and m∠BOD are supplementary angles.

6. Statement: Draw radius OC and let m∠CAO = y.

    Reason: Radius OC will be used to create an isosceles ∆COA and y as the base angle.

7. Statement: OC  OA and m∠CAO  m∠OCA.

    Reason: OC and OA are the radius of a circle and the two sides of an isosceles triangles are congruent. The two base angles of an isosceles triangles are congruent.

8. Statement: m∠COA = 180° - 2y

    Reason: The sum of the three angles of a triangle is always equal to 180°.

9. Statement: m∠COD = 180° - (180° - 2y) = 2y

    Reason: The sum of supplementary angles is always 180°. m∠COA and m∠COD are supplementary angles.

10. Statement: m∠BAC = x + y and m∠BOC = 2x + 2y.

      Reason: Addition property of angles

11. Statement: m∠BAC = ½ m∠BOC

      Reason: If OA, OB, and OC are equidistant from its center at O, then m∠BAC = ½ m∠BOC.

12. Statement: m∠BOC = m(arc BC)

      Reasons: If m∠BOC is a central angle formed by the two radii OB and OC, then m(arc BC) is an arc formed by a central angle. 

13. Statement: m∠BAC = ½ m∠BOC = ½ m(arc BC)

      Reasons: Substitution proposition.