EngageNY
Similar Triangles in Circle-Secant (or Circle-Secant-Tangent) Diagrams
First angle measures, now segment lengths. High schoolers first measure segments formed by secants that intersect interior to a circle, secants that intersect exterior to a circle, and a secant and a tangent that intersect exterior to a...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Inscribing and Circumscribing Right Triangles
High schoolers attempt an assessment task requiring them to find the radii of inscribed and circumscribed circles of a right triangle with given dimensions. They then evaluate provided sample responses to consider how to improve...
Virginia Department of Education
Circles in the Coordinate Plane
Make the connection between the distance formula and the equation of a circle. The teacher presents a lesson on how to use the distance formula to derive the equation of the circle. Pupils transform circles on the coordinate plane and...
EngageNY
Tangent Segments
What's so special about tangents? Learners first explore how if a circle is tangent to both rays of an angle, then its center is on the angle bisector. They then complete a set of exercises designed to explore further properties and...
EngageNY
The Inscribed Angle Alternate – A Tangent Angle
You know the Inscribed Angle Theorem and you know about tangent lines; now let's consider them together! Learners first explore angle measures when one of the rays of the angle is a tangent to a circle. They then apply their...
EngageNY
Properties of Tangents
You know about the tangent function, but what are tangent lines to a circle? Learners investigate properties of tangents through constructions. They determine that tangents are perpendicular to the radius at the point of tangency,...
EngageNY
Secant Angle Theorem, Exterior Case
It doesn't matter whether secant lines intersect inside or outside the circle, right? Scholars extend concepts from the previous activity to investigate angles created by secant lines that intersect at a point exterior to the...
Curated OER
Tangent Lines and the Radius of a Circle
Your Geometry learners will collaboratively prove that the tangent line of a circle is perpendicular to the radius of the circle. A deliberately sparse introduction allows for a variety of approaches to find a solution.
Curated OER
Segments Formed by Intersectiong Chords, Secants, and Tangents
Learners investigate the properties of segments formed which chords, secants, and tangents, intersect. The dynamic nature of Cabri Jr. allows high schoolers to form and verify conjectures regarding segment relationships.
Illustrative Mathematics
The Lighthouse Problem
Long considered the symbol of safe harbor and steadfast waiting, the lighthouse gets a mathematical treatment. The straightforward question of distance to the horizon is carefully presented, followed by a look into the...
Curated OER
Math: Tangents
Students discover how to recognize tangents and how to use their properties. They investigate and use the properties of angles, arcs, chords, tangents, and secants. Students use two tangents and the properties of similar triangles to...
Curated OER
Unit Circle Triangle
Students find the different ratios of a right triangle. For this geometry lesson, students apply the concept of the Pythagorean theorem as they identify the different angles and parts of a Unit Circle. They find the ratios of sine,...
Curated OER
Hexagoning the Circle
Students explore similarity to see that the area of a circle should be a constant times the square of its radius. Students create a hexagon. Students share their designs with the class.
Virginia Department of Education
Arc Length and Area of a Sector
What do skateboarding and baked goods have in common with math? You can use them to connect half-pipe ramps and cakes to arcs and sectors. Pupils compare the lengths of three different ramp options of a skate park. They calculate the...
Curated OER
Understanding Fundamental Trigonometric Identities
Students are introduced to the basic trigonometric identities. Using a diagram, they discover why the parts of the unit circle as named as they are and use equations to finalize the Pythagorean trigonometric identities. They also review...
Curated OER
Inscribed Angles
Students analyze inscribed angles and intercepted arcs and explore the relationships between the two. They investigate the properties of angles, arcs, chords, tangents, and secants to solve problems involving circles.
Curated OER
Angles and Arcs
Students discuss the sum of central angles and use string to create them on circles. They find the measure and length of both minor and major arcs.
Students give examples of concentric, similar, and congruent circles and congruent arcs.
Curated OER
Math: Arcs and Chords
Students draw diagrams demonstrating how it is possible to two central angles to be congruent and their minor arcs are not congruent. In groups, they illustrate theorems with their constructed circles, create diameters of circles that...
Curated OER
Investigating the Idea of Tan
Fifth graders use tan to solve problems involving right-angled triangles. They solve equations of the form tan(8) =a, for a between 180 degrees and 360 degrees. They state the value of tan (8) in special cases.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: G C, G Co Tangent Lines and the Radius of a Circle
In this task, students are shown a circle with center O and point P on the circle. L is a line that is a tangent to the circle at P. They must show that line OP is perpendicular to line L. Aligns with G-C.A.2, G-CO.A, and G-CO.C.9.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Segments Formed by Intersecting Chords, Secants, and Tangents
This activity is designed to help students discover several important theorems concerning lengths of segments formed by intersecting chords, secants, and tangents.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: G Srt Ask the Pilot
In the July 2013 issue of United Airlines' Hemisphere Magazine, a pilot responded to a question about how far in the distance he could see at different altitudes. The solution involved right triangles, lines of tangency to a circle, and...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: F Tf Special Triangles 1
Using known facts about the unit circle and isosceles triangles together with the Pythagorean Theorem, students can derive the sine and cosine of special angles. Aligns with HSF-TF.A.3.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: F Tf Special Triangles 2
Using known facts about the unit circle and isosceles triangles together with the Pythagorean Theorem, students can derive the sine and cosine of special angles. Aligns with HSF-TF.A.3.