DEFINITION, THEOREMS, POSTULATES

DEFINITIONS:
Definition of an Angle -An angle is the union of two noncollinear rays with a common
endpoint.
Definition of Congruent Angles- Two angles are congruent if and only if their measures are
equal.
Definition of Adjacent Angles - Adjacent angles share a common vertex and a common
side, but do not overlap.
Definition of Supplementary Angles- Two angles are supplementary when the sum of their
angles is 180°.
Definition of Vertical Angles- Opposite angles formed by two intersecting lines are vertical
angles.
Definition of Perpendicular Lines -Perpendicular lines are two lines that intersect to form a
right angle.
Definition of Perpendicular Bisector-A perpendicular bisector 𝑃𝑅 of a line segment 𝑋𝑍 is a
line segment perpendicular to 𝑋𝑍 and passing through the midpoint.
Definition of Congruent Triangles -Two triangles are congruent if and only if the
corresponding sides and the corresponding angles are congruent.
CPCTC- Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles are Congruent.
Definition of Right angle- All right angles are congruent.
Definition of a Tangent Line - A tangent to a circle is a line coplanar with the circle and
intersects it in one and only one point. The point of intersection of the line and the circle is
called the point of tangency.
Definition of A secant is a line or segment or ray that intersects a circle at exactly two
points. A secant contains chord of a circle.

MORE DEFINITION OF PARTS OF THE CIRCLE.

Arc – a part of a circle
Central Angle – an angle formed by two rays whose vertex is the center of the circle
Common External Tangents – tangents which do not intersect the segment joining the
centers of the two circles
Common Internal Tangents – tangents that intersect the segment joining the centers of the
two circles
Common Tangent – a line that is tangent to two circles on the same plane
Degree Measure of a Major Arc – the measure of a major arc that is equal to 360 minus the
measure of the minor arc with the same endpoints
Degree Measure of a Minor Arc – the measure of the central angle which intercepts the arc
External Secant Segment – the part of a secant segment that is outside a circle
Inscribed Angle – an angle whose vertex is on a circle and whose sides contain chords of
the circle
Intercepted Arc – an arc that lies in the interior of an inscribed angle and has endpoints on
the angle
Major Arc – an arc of a circle whose measure is greater than that of a semicircle
Minor Arc – an arc of a circle whose measure is less than that of a semicircle
Point of Tangency – the point of intersection of the tangent line and the circle
Sector of a Circle – the region bounded by an arc of the circle and the two radii to the
endpoints of the arc
Segment of a Circle – the region bounded by an arc and the segment joining its endpoints
Semicircle – an arc measuring one-half the circumference of a circle

PROPERTY OF EQUALITY:
Transitive property of equality- Things which are equal to the same thing are also equal to
one another.
Addition property of equality - If equals are added to equals, the wholes are equal.
Subtraction property of equality- If equals are subtracted from equals, the remainders are
equal.
Reflexive property of equality - Things which coincide with one another are equal to one
another.
Symmetric Property of Equality - For all real numbers 𝑝 and 𝑞, if 𝑝 = 𝑞. then 𝑞 = 𝑝.
Substitution Property of Equality - For all real numbers 𝑝 and 𝑞, if 𝑝 = 𝑞, then 𝑞 can be
substituted for 𝑝 in any expression.

POSTULATES:
Parallel line postulate- asserts that two distinct straight lines in a plane are either parallel or
meet exactly in one point.
Segment Addition Postulate - If points 𝑃, 𝑄 and 𝑅 are collinear and point 𝑄 is between points
Angle Measurement Postulate - To every angle there corresponds a unique real number 𝑟
where 0 <𝑟<180°
Arc Addition Postulate - The measure of an arc formed by two adjacent non-overlapping
arcs (arcs that share exactly one point) is equal to the sum of the measures of these two
arcs
Tangent line Postulate- At a given point on a circle, one and only one line can be drawn
that is tangent to the circle.
SAS (Side-Angle-Side) Congruence Postulate- If two sides and an included angle of one
triangle are congruent to the corresponding two sides and the included angle of another
triangle, then the triangles are congruent.
ASA (Angle-Side-Angle) Congruence Postulate- If two angles and the included side of one
triangle are congruent to the corresponding two angles and an included side of another
triangle, then the triangles are congruent.
SSS (Side-Side-Side) Congruence Postulate- If three sides of one triangle are congruent to
the corresponding three sides of another triangle, then the triangles are congruent.

CONGRUENCY:

Congruent circles are circles with congruent radii.

Congruent arcs are arcs of the same circle or of congruent circles with equal measures.

THEOREMS:

Perpendicular Bisector Theorem- Point on the perpendicular bisector of a segment is

equidistant from the endpoints of the segment.

Isosceles Triangle Theorem- Base angles of isosceles triangles are congruent.

Exterior Angle Theorem- The exterior angle of a triangle is equal to the sum of the two
remote interior angles of the triangle. The exterior angle of a triangle is greater than either
of the measures of the remote interior angles.

Triangle Angle Sum Theorem- The sum of the measures of the angles of a triangle is 180°.
THEOREMS ON CENTRAL ANGLES, ARCS, AND CHORDS

Theorem 1. In a circle or in congruent circles, two minor arcs are congruent if and only if
their corresponding central angles are congruent.

Theorem 2. In a circle or in congruent circles, two minor arcs are congruent if and only if
their corresponding chords are congruent.

Theorem 3. In a circle, a diameter bisects a chord and an arc with the same endpoints if
and only if it is perpendicular to the chord.

THEOREMS ON INSCRIBED ANGLES

Theorem 1. If an angle is inscribed in a circle, then the measure of the angle is equal to 𝑜𝑛𝑒-
ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑓 the measure of its intercepted arc.

Theorem 2. If two inscribed angles of a circle (or of congruent circles) intercept congruent
arcs or the same arc, then the angles are congruent.

Theorem 3. If an inscribed angle of a circle intercepts a semicircle, then the angle is a right
angle.

Theorem 4. If a quadrilateral is inscribed in a circle, then its opposite angles are

supplementary.

THEOREMS ON TANGENT LINE

Theorem 1. If a line is tangent to a circle, then it is perpendicular to the radius drawn to the
point of tangency

Theorem 2. If a line is perpendicular to the radius of a circle at its endpoint on the circle,
then the line is tangent to the circle.

Theorem 3. If two segments from the same exterior point are tangent to a circle, then
the two segments are congruent.

THEOREMS ON ANGLES FORMED BY TANGENTS AND SECANTS

Theorem 1. If two tangents intersect in the exterior of a circle, then the measure of the
angle formed is one-half the difference of the measures of the intercepted arcs.

Theorem 2. If two secants intersect in the exterior of a circle, then the measure of the angle
formed is one-half the positive difference of the measures of the intercepted arcs.

Theorem 3. If a secant and a tangent intersect in the exterior of a circle, then the measure
of the angle formed is one-half the difference of the measures of the intercepted arcs.

Theorem 4. If two secants intersect in the interior of a circle, then the measure of an angle
formed is one-half the sum of the measures of the arcs intercepted by the angle and its
vertical angle.

Theorem 5. If a secant and a tangent intersect at the point of tangency, then the measure
of each angle formed is one-half the measure of its intercepted arc.
THEOREMS ON SECANT SEGMENTS, TANGENTS SEGMENTS, AND EXTERNAL SEGMENTS

Theorem 1. If two secant segments are drawn to a circle from an exterior point, then the
product of the lengths of one secant segment and its external secant segment is equal to
the product of the lengths of the other secant segment and its external secant segment.

Theorem 2. If a tangent segment and a secant segment are drawn to a circle from an
exterior point, then the square of the length of the tangent segment is equal to the
product of the lengths of the secant segment and its external secant segment.

Theorem 3. If two secant lines intersect inside the circle, the product of the lengths of
segments formed inside the circle are equal.