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Last Updated Sep 27, 2025
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The angle in a semicircle theorem, also known as Thales' theorem, is a fundamental result in geometry. It states that any angle subtended by a diameter of a circle (i.e., an angle formed by two points on the circle and the endpoints of a diameter) is a right angle (90 degrees).
Thales' Theorem: If is a triangle inscribed in a circle, where is the diameter of the circle, then the angle is a right angle.
Consider a circle with a centre and a diameter Let be any point on the circle such that is not on the line The goal is to show that the angle
Draw the Circle and the Triangle:
Draw the circle with centre and diameter .
Let be any point on the circle, forming the triangle Understand the Relationship:
The points and are all on the circumference of the circle.
is the diameter, so the line is the radius of the circle.
Note that (where is the radius of the circle). Consider the Angles:
The angle and are both angles at the centre and subtend the same arc
Therefore, Consider the Angle Sum in Triangle and
In and But since , it follows that: This shows that is indeed a right angle.
Given a circle with a diameter units and a point on the circle such that units and units, verify that the angle is a right angle.
Solution: 5. Check the Condition for a Right Triangle:
Given a circle with a centre at and diameter , if is a point on the circumference such that forms a triangle, what is the measure of ?
Solution: By Thales' theorem, is a right angle, so
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