How can I prove that an angle in a semi-circle is always 90 degrees?

If we take the diameter of a circle and create an angle on the circumference at point C of the circle from the two points where the diameter meets the circumference (points A and B), the angle created will always equal 90 degrees. To prove this we can draw a line from point C to the centre (point O). We have now created two isosceles triangles (O,A,C) and (O,B,C). Therefore, angle OAC = angle OCA (we will call this angle x) and angle OBC = OBA (we will call this angle y).Our angle at point C, therefore is equal to x+y.We can now return to the original triangle (A,B,C) and using our triangle knowledge we can say:x+y+(x+y)=1802x+2y=180x+y=90

DW
Answered by David W. Maths tutor

4176 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Nadia has £5 to buy pencils and rulers. Pencils are 8p each. Rulers are 30p each. She says “I will buy 15 pencils. Then I will buy as many rulers as possible. With my change I will buy more pencils.” How many pencils and how many rulers does she buy?


In a school, there is a total of 640 children. The ratio of Girls to boys is 7:9. How many boys are there in this school?


y = (3t + 1)/p, Where t = 3, and y = 2, what is the value of p?


The population of sheep on an island is 170. The population of the sheep is expected to increase by 3% each year, what will the population of sheep be in 5 years time? [3 marks]


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning