Angle Chasing

MathDash
Last updated 2024-11-01

1 Lecture notes

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1.1 Some vague intuition

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In some problems, it is obvious what angles you are looking for. In those cases, you can

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do one of two things:

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• From the given angles, try to find as many angles as possible until you reach what

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you are looking for; or

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• Write everything in terms of the angles you are looking for until you get back to

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the givens.

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You can equate this to “solving for every variable” vs. “substituting with the variable

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you want” in algebra.

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If it is not obvious what angles you want (as is the case with harder computational and

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olympiad problems), you will have to be more careful. In these cases, you will want to
angle chase in order to relate lengths or some other conditions (e.g. reveal 90◦ angles,
cyclic quadrilaterals, equal lengths, etc.). One heuristic is to draw a good diagram that
suggests equal angles, equal lengths, or cyclic quadrilaterals, then chase angles to prove

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that your claims are in fact true.

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1.2 Formula list
There are a number of useful theorems to know.

Theorem 1.1 (Inscribed angle theorem)

Let 𝐴, 𝐵 be points on a circle with center 𝑂.

• If 𝐶 is a point on the minor arc 𝐴𝐵, then ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 180◦ − ∠𝐴𝑂𝐵

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.

• If 𝐶 is a point on the major arc 𝐴𝐵, then ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = ∠𝐴𝑂𝐵

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.

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MathDash (Last updated 2024-11-01) Angle Chasing

𝐴
𝐵

𝐶
𝐷

As a result: any two angles that are inscribed in the same arc are equal (so ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 =
∠𝐴𝐷𝐵 in the figure above).

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Theorem 1.2

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Let 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶, 𝐷 lie on a circle with center 𝑂 (not necessarily in that order), and let 𝐴𝐵

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and 𝐶𝐷 intersect at 𝑃 .

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• If 𝑃 is outside the circle, then ∠𝐵𝑃𝐶 = ∠𝐵𝑂𝐶−∠𝐴𝑂𝐷
2

• If 𝑃 is inside the circle, then ∠𝐵𝑃𝐶 = ∠𝐵𝑂𝐶+∠𝐴𝑂𝐷 .

.

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a t s e 𝐴
𝑃
𝐷
𝐴
𝐷

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𝐶 𝑃 𝐶

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𝑂 𝑂

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𝐵 𝐵

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Theorem 1.3 (Cyclic quadrilaterals)
Let 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷 be a quadrilateral. Then 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷 is cyclic if and only if ∠𝐷𝐴𝐶 = ∠𝐷𝐵𝐶 and
∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 + ∠𝐴𝐷𝐶 = 180◦ .

𝐷
𝐴
𝐶

Here is a shortcut you probably already know, but is worth mentioning:

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Theorem 1.4 (Exterior angle theorem)

Let 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐷 be points on a line in that order and 𝐶 be a point not on the line. Then
∠𝐵𝐴𝐶 + ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = ∠𝐷𝐵𝐶 .

2 Examples

Example 2.1 (AMC 8 1999/21)

Find the degree measure of angle 𝐴.

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100◦

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110◦

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40

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Example 2.2 (AMC 10B 2011/18)

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Rectangle 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷 has 𝐴𝐵 = 6 and 𝐵𝐶 = 3. Point 𝑀 is chosen on side 𝐴𝐵 so that

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∠𝐴𝑀 𝐷 = ∠𝐶𝑀 𝐷. What is the degree measure of ∠𝐴𝑀 𝐷?

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Walkthrough. Let 𝑥 = ∠𝐴𝑀 𝐷.

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1. Compute ∠𝑀 𝐷𝐶 .

2. What type of triangle is △𝐶𝑀 𝐷?

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3. What type of triangle is △𝐵𝑀𝐶 ?

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4. Compute ∠𝐵𝑀𝐶 .

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5. Solve for 𝑥 .

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Example 2.3 (AMC 12A Fall 2021/6)

As shown in the figure below, point 𝐸 lies on the opposite half-plane determined by
line 𝐶𝐷 from point 𝐴 so that ∠𝐶𝐷𝐸 = 110◦ . Point 𝐹 lies on 𝐴𝐷 so that 𝐷𝐸 = 𝐷𝐹 , and
𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷 is a square. What is the degree measure of ∠𝐴𝐹𝐸 ?
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110◦

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Walkthrough.

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1. Compute ∠𝐴𝐷𝐸 .

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2. Compute ∠𝐷𝐹𝐸 .

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3. Compute ∠𝐴𝐹𝐸 .

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Example 2.4 (AMC 10B 2009/24)

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The keystone arch is an ancient architectural feature. It is composed of congruent

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isosceles trapezoids fitted together along the non-parallel sides, as shown. The bot-

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tom sides of the two end trapezoids are horizontal. In an arch made with 9 trape-
zoids, let 𝑥 be the angle measure in degrees of the larger interior angle of the trape-
zoid. What is 𝑥 ?

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Walkthrough. Extend the legs of all trapezoids to intersect at the center of the arch. I’ll
let you figure the rest out yourself.

Example 2.5 (Miquel’s theorem)

Let 𝐴𝐵𝐶 be a triangle with points 𝐷, 𝐸, 𝐹 on 𝐵𝐶, 𝐶𝐴, 𝐴𝐵, respectively. Then (𝐴𝐸𝐹) ,
(𝐵𝐹𝐷) , (𝐶𝐷𝐸) all concur at the same point.

Walkthrough. We will use a phantom points argument. In particular, we will construct

a point 𝑃 , then show that all three circles intersect at 𝑃 . Say (𝐴𝐸𝐹) and (𝐵𝐹𝐷) intersect
at 𝑃 ≠ 𝐹 .

1. Compute ∠𝐸𝑃𝐹 and ∠𝐷𝑃𝐹 .

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2. Compute ∠𝐸𝑃𝐷.

3. Show that 𝑃 lies on (𝐶𝐷𝐸) .

Example 2.6
Let 𝐴𝐵𝐶 be a triangle with circumcenter 𝑂, incenter 𝐼 , and orthocenter 𝐻 . Show that
∠𝐵𝑂𝐶 = 2∠𝐴, ∠𝐵𝐼𝐶 = 90◦ + ∠𝐴 2
, and ∠𝐵𝐻𝐶 = 180◦ − ∠𝐴.

Walkthrough. Use inscribed angle theorem for ∠𝐵𝑂𝐶 and direct angle chasing for the
other two.

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3 Problems
There are 79 total points available in this unit, including feedback. Try to complete at least
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of the total points.

[2] Problem 1 (AMC 12A 2007/8). A star-polygon is drawn on a clock face by drawing a
chord from each number to the fifth number counted clockwise from that number. That
is, chords are drawn from 12 to 5, from 5 to 10, from 10 to 3, and so on, ending back at
12. What is the degree measure of the angle at each vertex in the star polygon?

[2] Problem 2 (AHSME 1957/44). In △𝐴𝐵𝐶, 𝐴𝐶 = 𝐶𝐷 and ∠𝐶𝐴𝐵 − ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 = 30◦ . Compute
∠𝐵𝐴𝐷.
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[2] Required Problem 3 (AHSME 1979/3). In the figure below, 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷 is a square, 𝐴𝐵𝐸
is an equilateral triangle and point 𝐸 is outside square 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷. What is the measure of

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∠𝐴𝐸𝐷 in degrees?

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[2] Problem 4 (MATHCOUNTS 1986). Let 𝐴𝐵𝐶 be an isosceles triangle such that 𝐴𝐶 = 𝐵𝐶 .
Let 𝐶𝐵𝐷 be an isosceles triangle such that 𝐶𝐵 = 𝐷𝐵. Let 𝐵𝐷 meet 𝐴𝐶 at a right angle. If
∠𝐴 = 57◦ , what is ∠𝐷?

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[3] Problem 5 (AIME I 2020/1). In △𝐴𝐵𝐶 with 𝐴𝐵 = 𝐴𝐶, point 𝐷 lies strictly between

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𝐴 and 𝐶 on side 𝐴𝐶, and point 𝐸 lies strictly between 𝐴 and 𝐵 on side 𝐴𝐵 such that

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𝐴𝐸 = 𝐸𝐷 = 𝐷𝐵 = 𝐵𝐶. Compute the degree measure of ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶 .
[2] Problem 6 (AMC 12B 2011/6). Two tangents to a circle are drawn from a point 𝐴. The
points of contact 𝐵 and 𝐶 divide the circle into arcs with lengths in the ratio 2 : 3. What
is the degree measure of ∠𝐵𝐴𝐶 ?

[2] Problem 7 (AMC 10B 2007/15). The angles of quadrilateral 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷 satisfy ∠𝐴 = 2 ∠𝐵 =
3 ∠𝐶 = 4 ∠𝐷. What is the degree measure of ∠𝐴, rounded to the nearest whole number?

[3] Problem 8 (AMC 12B 2013/13). The internal angles of quadrilateral 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷 form an
arithmetic progression. Triangles 𝐴𝐵𝐷 and 𝐷𝐶𝐵 are similar with ∠𝐷𝐵𝐴 = ∠𝐷𝐶𝐵 and
∠𝐴𝐷𝐵 = ∠𝐶𝐵𝐷. Moreover, the angles in each of these two triangles also form an arith-
metic progression. In degrees, what is the largest possible sum of the two largest angles
of 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷?

[3] Problem 9 (AMC 10B 2011/17). In the given circle, the diameter 𝐸𝐵 is parallel to 𝐷𝐶 ,
and 𝐴𝐵 is parallel to 𝐸𝐷. The angles 𝐴𝐸𝐵 and 𝐴𝐵𝐸 are in the ratio 4 : 5. What is the
degree measure of angle 𝐵𝐶𝐷?
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[3] Problem 10 (COMC 2019/C2.c). In triangle 𝐾𝐿𝑀 , let points 𝐺 and 𝐸 be on segment 𝐿𝑀
so that ∠𝑀 𝐾𝐺 = ∠𝐺𝐾𝐸 = ∠𝐸𝐾𝐿 = 𝛼. Let point 𝐹 be on segment 𝐾𝐿 so that 𝐺𝐹 is parallel
to 𝐾𝑀 . Given that 𝐾𝐹𝐸𝐺 is an isosceles trapezoid and that ∠𝐾𝐿𝑀 = 84◦ , determine 𝛼.

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[3] Problem 11 (CMIMC 2018/G1). Let 𝐴𝐵𝐶 be a triangle. Point 𝑃 lies in the interior of

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△𝐴𝐵𝐶 such that ∠𝐴𝐵𝑃 = 20◦ and ∠𝐴𝐶𝑃 = 15◦ . Compute ∠𝐵𝑃𝐶 − ∠𝐵𝐴𝐶 .

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[5] Required Problem 12 (AIME I 2022/3). In isosceles trapezoid 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷, parallel bases 𝐴𝐵

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and 𝐶𝐷 have lengths 500 and 650, respectively, and 𝐴𝐷 = 𝐵𝐶 = 333. The angle bisectors
of ∠𝐴 and ∠𝐷 meet at 𝑃 , and the angle bisectors of ∠𝐵 and ∠𝐶 meet at 𝑄. Find 𝑃𝑄.

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[3] Problem 13 (AIME II 2023/3). Let △𝐴𝐵𝐶 be an isosceles triangle with ∠𝐴 = 90◦ . There

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exists a point 𝑃 inside △𝐴𝐵𝐶 such that ∠𝑃𝐴𝐵 = ∠𝑃𝐵𝐶 = ∠𝑃𝐶𝐴 and 𝐴𝑃 = 10. Find the

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area of △𝐴𝐵𝐶.

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[2] Problem 14 (CMIMC 2019/G1). The figure below depicts two congruent triangles with
angle measures 40◦ , 50◦ , and 90◦ . What is the measure of the obtuse angle 𝛼 formed by

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the hypotenuses of these two triangles?

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[2] Required Problem 15 (ML HS). In a certain quadrilateral, the three shortest sides
are congruent, and both diagonals are as long as the longest side. What is the degree
measure of the largest angle of this quadrilateral?

[3] Problem 16 (AMC 10A 2019/13). Let △𝐴𝐵𝐶 be an isosceles triangle with 𝐵𝐶 = 𝐴𝐶
and ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 40◦ . Construct the circle with diameter 𝐵𝐶 , and let 𝐷 and 𝐸 be the other
intersection points of the circle with the sides 𝐴𝐶 and 𝐴𝐵, respectively. Let 𝐹 be the
intersection of the diagonals of the quadrilateral 𝐵𝐶𝐷𝐸 . What is the degree measure of
∠𝐵𝐹𝐶 ?
[5] Problem 17 (Reim’s theorem). Let 𝜔1 , 𝜔2 be circles that intersect at points 𝑃, 𝑄. Let
line ℓ1 passing through 𝑃 intersect 𝜔1 again at 𝐴1 and 𝜔2 again at 𝐴2 . Let 𝐵1 be a point
on 𝜔1 and 𝐵2 be a point on 𝜔2 . Show that 𝐴1 𝐵1 ∥ 𝐴2 𝐵2 if and only if 𝑄 lies on 𝐵1 𝐵2 .

[3] Problem 18 (BMO 2000/1/1). Two intersecting circles 𝐶1 and 𝐶2 have a common tan-
gent which touches 𝐶1 at 𝑃 and 𝐶2 at 𝑄. The two circles intersect at 𝑀, 𝑁 , where 𝑁 is
nearer to 𝑃𝑄 than 𝑀 is. The line 𝑃𝑁 meets the circle 𝐶2 again at 𝑅. Prove that 𝑀𝑄 bisects
∠𝑃𝑀𝑅.
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[9] Problem 19 (Brazil MO 2007). Let 𝐴𝐵𝐶 be a triangle with circumcenter 𝑂. Let 𝑃 be
the intersection of straight lines 𝐵𝑂 and 𝐴𝐶 and 𝜔 be the circumcircle of triangle 𝐴𝑂𝑃 .
Suppose that 𝐵𝑂 = 𝐴𝑃 and that the measure of the arc 𝑂𝑃 in 𝜔 , that does not contain 𝐴,
is 40◦ . Determine the measure of the angle ∠𝑂𝐵𝐶 .

[5] Problem 20 (AIME I 2015/6). Point 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶, 𝐷, and 𝐸 are equally spaced on a minor arc
of a circle. Points 𝐸, 𝐹, 𝐺, 𝐻, 𝐼 and 𝐴 are equally spaced on a minor arc of a second circle
with center 𝐶 as shown in the figure below. The angle ∠𝐴𝐵𝐷 exceeds ∠𝐴𝐻𝐺 by 12◦ . Find
the degree measure of ∠𝐵𝐴𝐺 .

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[5] Problem 21 (AIME II 2023/3). Let △𝐴𝐵𝐶 be an isosceles triangle with ∠𝐴 = 90◦ . There

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exists a point 𝑃 inside △𝐴𝐵𝐶 such that ∠𝑃𝐴𝐵 = ∠𝑃𝐵𝐶 = ∠𝑃𝐶𝐴 and 𝐴𝑃 = 10. Find the

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area of △𝐴𝐵𝐶.

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[9] Problem 22 (Nine-point circle). Let 𝐴𝐵𝐶 be a triangle with altitudes 𝐴𝐷, 𝐵𝐸, 𝐶𝐹 that

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meet at orthocenter 𝐻 . Show that (𝐷𝐸𝐹) passes through the midpoints of 𝐴𝐵, 𝐵𝐶 , 𝐶𝐴,

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𝐴𝐻 , 𝐵𝐻 , 𝐶𝐻 .

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[1] Feedback. Please let me know what you thought of this unit! In particular, I would

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like to know:

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• which problems you thought were nice, too easy/difficult, helpful, etc.;

• what needs clarification; and

• how this unit could be improved.

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