Circle properties and circle theorems

There are 50 NRICH Mathematical resources connected to Circle properties and circle theorems
Kissing
problem

Kissing

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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Two perpendicular lines are tangential to two identical circles that touch. What is the largest circle that can be placed in between the two lines and the two circles and how would you construct it?
Cyclic Quad Jigsaw
problem

Cyclic quad jigsaw

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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A picture is made by joining five small quadrilaterals together to make a large quadrilateral. Is it possible to draw a similar picture if all the small quadrilaterals are cyclic?
Set Square
problem

Set square

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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A triangle PQR, right angled at P, slides on a horizontal floor with Q and R in contact with perpendicular walls. What is the locus of P?
Three Balls
problem

Three balls

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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A circle has centre O and angle POR = angle QOR. Construct tangents at P and Q meeting at T. Draw a circle with diameter OT. Do P and Q lie inside, or on, or outside this circle?
Just touching
problem

Just touching

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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Three semi-circles have a common diameter, each touches the other two and two lie inside the biggest one. What is the radius of the circle that touches all three semi-circles?
Tricircle
problem

Tricircle

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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The centre of the larger circle is at the midpoint of one side of an equilateral triangle and the circle touches the other two sides of the triangle. A smaller circle touches the larger circle and two sides of the triangle. If the small circle has radius 1 unit find the radius of the larger circle.
Incircles
problem

Incircles

Age
16 to 18
Challenge level
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The incircles of 3, 4, 5 and of 5, 12, 13 right angled triangles have radii 1 and 2 units respectively. What about triangles with an inradius of 3, 4 or 5 or ...?
Triangle Incircle Iteration
problem

Triangle incircle iteration

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Keep constructing triangles in the incircle of the previous triangle. What happens?
Similarly so
problem

Similarly so

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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ABCD is a square. P is the midpoint of AB and is joined to C. A line from D perpendicular to PC meets the line at the point Q. Prove AQ = AD.
Medallions
problem

Medallions

Age
14 to 16
Challenge level
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Three circular medallions fit in a rectangular box. Can you find the radius of the largest one?