Section 1.

6 Circles Vocabulary
Circle the set of all points in a plane at a given
distance (radius) from a given point (center) in
the plane. You name a circle by its center.
Radius a segment from the center to a point on
the circle. The radius is half the length of the
diameter
Diameter a line segment containing the center
with its endpoints on the circle. The diameter is
twice the length of the radius.
Congruent circles circles are congruent if
their radii are the same length.
Concentric circles circles that
share the same center point.
Arc of a circle the two points on
the circle and the continuous
(unbroken) part of the circle
between the two points.
Endpoints of an arc the two
points are the endpoints of the arc.
Semicircle an arc of a circle
whose endpoints are the endpoints
of a diameter. Semicircles need to
be named with three points.

Chapter 6 Circle Vocabulary
Minor arc an arc of a
circle that is smaller than
a semicircle. Minor arcs
can be named with two
points.

Major arc an arc of a
circle that is larger than a
semicircle. Major arcs
must be named with three
points.
Thi s i s cal led arc AB and is
written AB
B
A
C
Thi s i s call ed arc ACB and
i s written ACB
B
A
Arc measures arc
measures are found by
measuring the corresponding
central angle. The
MEASURE of an arc is
always in degrees.
Arc Lengths are found by
calculating the length of the
portion of the circumference
that is the arc. The
LENGTH of an arc is
always measured in units.
mZABC = 90.59
That means that
mAC = 90.59
B
A
C
If the radius of the circle
above is 15, then you would
do the following calculation to
find the length of the arc:
degree 90.59
2 2 15
360 360
r t t
| | | |
=
| |
\ . \ .
Central angle the angle
with its vertex at the center of
the circle and sides passing
though the endpoints of the
arc.


Inscribed angle an angle
whose vertex is on the circle
and intercepts an arc of the
circle

ZABC i s a
central angle
B
A
C
D
ZADC i s an
i nscribed angl e and
i t intercepts AC
A
C
Chord a chord is a line
segment whose endpoints
lie on the circle. A
diameter is a chord that
goes through the center of
the circle.
Tangent a tangent is a
line that intersects the circle
only once.
Point of Tangency the
point where the tangent
touches the circle.

K
A
AK is a chord.
TH is tangent to ci rcl e M at point T
M
H
T
Tangent circles are two
circles that are tangent to
the same line at the same
point.
Internally tangent are
tangent circles where one
circle is inside the other
circle.
Externally tangent are
tangent circles where both
circles are on opposite sides
of the tangent line (we say
the circles are external to
each other).
R
Ci rcl es T and M are
i nternall y tangent.
M
H
T
R
Ci rcl es T and G are
external ly tangent.
G
H
T
Cyclic Quadrilateral a
quadrilateral that is inscribed
in a circle.


Secant a line that intersects
a circle at two points.
Circumference the
perimeter of a circle or the
distance around a circle. The
formula for the
circumference of a circle is
2*Pi*r or Pi*d.
ABCD is a cycli c quadri lateral
C
A
B
D
AB is a secant
B
A