CBSE • Class 9Mathematics • Chapter 9

CirclesNCERT Solutions, AI Tutor & Practice

Equal chords subtend equal angles at the centre, perpendicular from the centre to a chord bisects it, and angles subtended at the centre vs at the circumference.

Aligned to the latest NCERT 2024-25 edition • 2 exercises covered • Free plan, no credit card

What you will learn

  • Prove that equal chords of a circle subtend equal angles at the centre
  • Prove that the perpendicular from the centre of a circle to a chord bisects the chord
  • Prove that the angle subtended by an arc at the centre is twice the angle subtended at the circumference

Key concepts in this chapter

ChordArcSectorCyclic quadrilateralAngle at centre vs circumference

NCERT Exercise-wise Solutions

2 exercises25 questions covered • Open any exercise for theme, focus topics and Socratic AI walkthroughs

Frequently asked NCERT questions in this chapter

  1. Prove that equal chords of a circle are equidistant from the centre.
  2. Show that the angle subtended by an arc at the centre is double the angle subtended at any point on the remaining part of the circle.
  3. If ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral, prove that opposite angles are supplementary.

Step-by-step NCERT solutions

12 solved questions • Each solution includes a Socratic hint, full working and a common-mistake callout • Last reviewed 2026-09-03

Exercise 10.1 Q1 • 3 marks

Two circles of equal radii intersect each other. Prove that the two equal chords formed by joining the point of intersection subtend equal angles at the respective centres, and hence recall which quantities are equal in congruent circles.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
If two chords have the same length in circles of the same radius, what can you say about the triangles formed by the chord and the two radii?
Step-by-step solution

Let the two circles have centres OO and OO' with equal radii rr. Let ABAB be a chord in the first circle and CDCD an equal chord in the second, so AB=CDAB = CD.

Construction: Join OA,OB,OC,ODOA, OB, O'C, O'D.

In OAB\triangle OAB and OCD\triangle O'CD:

  • OA=OC=rOA = O'C = r (equal radii)
  • OB=OD=rOB = O'D = r (equal radii)
  • AB=CDAB = CD (given equal chords)

By the SSS congruence rule, OABOCD\triangle OAB \cong \triangle O'CD.

Hence by CPCT, AOB=COD\angle AOB = \angle CO'D.

Conclusion: Equal chords of congruent circles subtend equal angles at their centres.

Common mistake:
Students often try to use SAS without first knowing the included angles are equal — but the angle is what we want to prove, so SSS must be used here.
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Exercise 10.1 Q2 • 3 marks

Prove that if two chords of a circle are equal, then they are equidistant from the centre of the circle.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
How does the perpendicular from the centre relate to a chord, and what does it split the chord into?
Step-by-step solution

Let OO be the centre with equal chords AB=CDAB = CD. Draw OMABOM \perp AB and ONCDON \perp CD.

Key fact: The perpendicular from the centre bisects the chord. So AM=12AB,CN=12CD.AM = \tfrac{1}{2}AB, \quad CN = \tfrac{1}{2}CD.

Since AB=CDAB = CD, we get AM=CNAM = CN.

In right triangles OMA\triangle OMA and ONC\triangle ONC:

  • OA=OC=rOA = OC = r (radii)
  • AM=CNAM = CN (shown above)
  • OMA=ONC=90\angle OMA = \angle ONC = 90^\circ

By the RHS congruence rule, OMAONC\triangle OMA \cong \triangle ONC.

By CPCT, OM=ONOM = ON.

Conclusion: Equal chords are equidistant from the centre.

Common mistake:
Forgetting to state that the perpendicular from the centre bisects the chord, so students cannot justify AM=CNAM = CN.
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Exercise 10.1 Q3 • 2 marks

A chord of length 8 cm is drawn in a circle of radius 5 cm. Find the distance of the chord from the centre.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
What right triangle do you form using half the chord, the radius, and the perpendicular distance?
Step-by-step solution

Let OO be the centre, ABAB the chord of length 88 cm, and OMABOM \perp AB.

The perpendicular from the centre bisects the chord, so AM=12(8)=4 cm.AM = \tfrac{1}{2}(8) = 4 \text{ cm}.

In right triangle OMA\triangle OMA, OA=5OA = 5 cm (radius). By Pythagoras: OM2=OA2AM2=5242=2516=9.OM^2 = OA^2 - AM^2 = 5^2 - 4^2 = 25 - 16 = 9. OM=3 cm.OM = 3 \text{ cm}.

Conclusion: The chord is 33 cm from the centre.

Common mistake:
Using the full chord length (8 cm) instead of half (4 cm) in the Pythagoras step.
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Exercise 10.1 Q4 • 3 marks

Two parallel chords of a circle of radius 13 cm are on the same side of the centre. Their lengths are 10 cm and 24 cm. Find the distance between the two chords.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Find each chord's distance from the centre separately — will you add or subtract them if they are on the same side?
Step-by-step solution

Radius r=13r = 13 cm.

Chord of length 24 cm: half-length =12= 12 cm. d1=132122=169144=25=5 cm.d_1 = \sqrt{13^2 - 12^2} = \sqrt{169 - 144} = \sqrt{25} = 5 \text{ cm}.

Chord of length 10 cm: half-length =5= 5 cm. d2=13252=16925=144=12 cm.d_2 = \sqrt{13^2 - 5^2} = \sqrt{169 - 25} = \sqrt{144} = 12 \text{ cm}.

Both chords are on the same side of the centre, so the distance between them is d2d1=125=7 cm.d_2 - d_1 = 12 - 5 = 7 \text{ cm}.

Conclusion: The chords are 77 cm apart.

Common mistake:
Adding the two distances (which applies only when the chords are on opposite sides of the centre) instead of subtracting.
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Exercise 10.1 Q5 • 3 marks

Prove that if a line drawn through the centre of a circle bisects a chord (which is not a diameter), then it is perpendicular to the chord.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Join the centre to both endpoints of the chord — what kind of triangle do the two radii and the chord form?
Step-by-step solution

Let OO be the centre and ABAB a chord (not a diameter). Let MM be the midpoint of ABAB, so AM=MBAM = MB, and OMOM passes through the centre.

In OMA\triangle OMA and OMB\triangle OMB:

  • OA=OB=rOA = OB = r (radii)
  • AM=MBAM = MB (given, MM is midpoint)
  • OM=OMOM = OM (common)

By SSS congruence, OMAOMB\triangle OMA \cong \triangle OMB.

By CPCT, OMA=OMB\angle OMA = \angle OMB.

But OMA+OMB=180\angle OMA + \angle OMB = 180^\circ (linear pair on line ABAB). So 2OMA=180OMA=902\angle OMA = 180^\circ \Rightarrow \angle OMA = 90^\circ.

Conclusion: OMABOM \perp AB.

Common mistake:
Assuming perpendicularity from the start instead of proving it — this makes the argument circular.
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Exercise 10.2 Q1 • 2 marks

An arc of a circle subtends an angle of 100° at the centre. Find the angle it subtends at any point on the major arc.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
What is the relationship between the angle at the centre and the angle at the remaining part of the circle for the same arc?
Step-by-step solution

Theorem: The angle subtended by an arc at the centre is twice the angle subtended by the same arc at any point on the remaining (major) arc.

Let the angle at the centre be AOB=100\angle AOB = 100^\circ, and APB\angle APB the angle at a point PP on the major arc.

APB=12AOB=12(100)=50.\angle APB = \tfrac{1}{2}\angle AOB = \tfrac{1}{2}(100^\circ) = 50^\circ.

Conclusion: The angle at the major arc is 5050^\circ.

Common mistake:
Doubling instead of halving — mixing up which angle (centre or circumference) is the larger one.
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Exercise 10.2 Q2 • 3 marks

Prove that angles in the same segment of a circle are equal.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Can you express each of the two angles in terms of the same central angle standing on the same arc?
Step-by-step solution

Let ABAB be a chord and let P,QP, Q be two points on the same segment (same side of ABAB). Let OO be the centre.

The arc ABAB (not containing P,QP, Q) subtends AOB\angle AOB at the centre.

By the central angle theorem: APB=12AOBandAQB=12AOB.\angle APB = \tfrac{1}{2}\angle AOB \quad \text{and} \quad \angle AQB = \tfrac{1}{2}\angle AOB.

Since both equal 12AOB\tfrac{1}{2}\angle AOB, APB=AQB.\angle APB = \angle AQB.

Conclusion: Angles in the same segment are equal.

Common mistake:
Trying to prove it with congruent triangles instead of applying the central angle theorem to both points.
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Exercise 10.2 Q3 • 2 marks

In a cyclic quadrilateral ABCD, ∠A = 70°. Find ∠C. Also, if ∠B = 95°, find ∠D.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
What is the sum of a pair of opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral?
Step-by-step solution

Property: In a cyclic quadrilateral, opposite angles are supplementary (sum to 180180^\circ).

For A\angle A and C\angle C: A+C=180C=18070=110.\angle A + \angle C = 180^\circ \Rightarrow \angle C = 180^\circ - 70^\circ = 110^\circ.

For B\angle B and D\angle D: B+D=180D=18095=85.\angle B + \angle D = 180^\circ \Rightarrow \angle D = 180^\circ - 95^\circ = 85^\circ.

Conclusion: C=110\angle C = 110^\circ and D=85\angle D = 85^\circ.

Common mistake:
Adding adjacent angles (which is not generally 180°) instead of opposite angles.
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Exercise 10.2 Q4 • 3 marks

Prove that the angle in a semicircle is a right angle.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
What central angle does the diameter subtend, and how does that relate to the angle at the circumference?
Step-by-step solution

Let ABAB be a diameter of a circle with centre OO, and let PP be any point on the circle. We prove APB=90\angle APB = 90^\circ.

The arc ABAB subtends AOB\angle AOB at the centre. Since ABAB is a straight line (diameter), AOB=180.\angle AOB = 180^\circ.

By the central angle theorem, the angle at PP on the circle is half the central angle: APB=12AOB=12(180)=90.\angle APB = \tfrac{1}{2}\angle AOB = \tfrac{1}{2}(180^\circ) = 90^\circ.

Conclusion: The angle in a semicircle is a right angle.

Common mistake:
Not recognising that a diameter gives a straight (180°) angle at the centre, so the halving step is skipped.
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Exercise 10.2 Q5 • 3 marks

In a circle, chord AB is equal to chord CD. Prove that arc AB is equal to arc CD (minor arcs).
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Equal chords subtend equal angles at the centre — what does an equal central angle tell you about the arcs?
Step-by-step solution

Let OO be the centre with equal chords AB=CDAB = CD. Join OA,OB,OC,ODOA, OB, OC, OD.

In OAB\triangle OAB and OCD\triangle OCD:

  • OA=OC=rOA = OC = r (radii)
  • OB=OD=rOB = OD = r (radii)
  • AB=CDAB = CD (given)

By SSS, OABOCD\triangle OAB \cong \triangle OCD, so by CPCT AOB=COD\angle AOB = \angle COD.

Key fact: Arcs that subtend equal angles at the centre are equal. Since AOB=COD\angle AOB = \angle COD, arc AB=arc CD.\text{arc } AB = \text{arc } CD.

Conclusion: Equal chords cut off equal (minor) arcs.

Common mistake:
Claiming equal chords directly give equal arcs without the intermediate step of equal central angles.
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Exercise 10.2 Q6 • 4 marks

ABCD is a cyclic quadrilateral in which AB is parallel to CD. Prove that AD = BC (i.e. it is an isosceles trapezium).
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Parallel chords cut off equal arcs between them — how does that give you equal chords AD and BC?
Step-by-step solution

In cyclic quadrilateral ABCDABCD, ABCDAB \parallel CD.

Step 1 — Alternate angles: Since ABCDAB \parallel CD with transversal ACAC, BAC=ACD(alternate angles).\angle BAC = \angle ACD \quad (\text{alternate angles}).

Step 2 — Equal inscribed angles ⇒ equal arcs: BAC\angle BAC is the inscribed angle standing on arc BCBC, and ACD\angle ACD stands on arc ADAD. Equal inscribed angles subtend equal arcs, so arc BC=arc AD.\text{arc } BC = \text{arc } AD.

Step 3 — Equal arcs ⇒ equal chords: BC=AD.BC = AD.

Conclusion: AD=BCAD = BC, so ABCDABCD is an isosceles trapezium.

Common mistake:
Assuming AD = BC because the figure 'looks' symmetric, instead of proving it via equal arcs from the parallel condition.
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Exercise 10.2 Q7 • 3 marks

Two chords AB and CD of a circle intersect inside the circle at point P. If ∠APC = 40° and arc AC subtends a central angle, and inscribed angle relationships are used, find ∠ABD given ∠ACD = 30°.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Which inscribed angles stand on the same arc AD, and how does the exterior/interior angle at P relate to the two intercepted arcs?
Step-by-step solution

Let chords ABAB and CDCD meet at PP inside the circle.

Angles in the same segment: ABD\angle ABD and ACD\angle ACD both stand on arc ADAD (same segment).

Therefore, by the 'angles in the same segment are equal' theorem: ABD=ACD=30.\angle ABD = \angle ACD = 30^\circ.

Conclusion: ABD=30.\angle ABD = 30^\circ.

(The datum APC=40\angle APC = 40^\circ is extra information — the same-segment relationship alone determines ABD\angle ABD.)

Common mistake:
Trying to use the intersecting-chords angle formula unnecessarily instead of recognising the two angles lie in the same segment.
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How to solve Circles on Mindarc

  1. Watch the chapter overview video. A short animated explainer that maps the chapter to the NCERT textbook layout.
  2. Read the concept summary. Key definitions, formulas and worked examples for each concept.
  3. Solve with Guru AI. Open any exercise question in the dashboard; the Socratic AI tutor walks you through it by asking guiding questions instead of dictating answers.
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  5. Track mastery in your parent dashboard. See per-concept progress for Circles alongside every other chapter.

FAQs about this chapter

Why are opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral supplementary?+

Each pair of opposite angles together intercepts the entire circle, which is 360°. The angle subtended at the circumference is half the angle subtended at the centre, so opposite angles together account for 180°.

All Class 9 Mathematics chapters

  1. 1.Number Systems
  2. 2.Polynomials
  3. 3.Coordinate Geometry
  4. 4.Linear Equations in Two Variables
  5. 5.Introduction to Euclid's Geometry
  6. 6.Lines and Angles
  7. 7.Triangles
  8. 8.Quadrilaterals
  9. 9.Circles
  10. 10.Heron's Formula
  11. 11.Surface Areas and Volumes
  12. 12.Statistics

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