Geometry - Arcs created by Secant Lines

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a geometry problem involving secant lines intersecting a circle and the angles formed. The key challenge is to find the arc labeled x, given a 28-degree angle between the secants and a 120-degree subtended arc. The participant initially misapplies Theorem 2, incorrectly assuming angle AEB is a central angle. Suggestions from others emphasize the importance of using central angles and calculating the subtended arcs correctly, leading to the conclusion that the center of the circle can be inferred even if not explicitly drawn. The participant acknowledges the oversight and the need to consider central angles in their calculations.
marenubium
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Homework Statement



This picture:
http://i.imgur.com/n015WjU.png

It's drawn with exactly the amount of information from the worksheet. Specifically, the two secants meet at a point, with an angle of 28 degrees between them. Both secants partition off an arc of 120 degrees. The goal is to find the arc labeled x.

Homework Equations



Theorem (1): If an angle's vertex lies on a circle, then the angle is equal to half of the subtended arc.
Theorem (2): An angle is a central angle IFF the subtended arc is equal to the measure of the angle.

The Attempt at a Solution



Visual aid:
http://i.imgur.com/14Xoqfz.png

I labeled the points where the secants touch the circle A, B, C, D I then drew the purple lines.

By theorem 1, angles ADB, CBD are both 60 degrees.

Thus angle BED is 60 degrees since BED is a triangle, formed out of three straight lines.

Since AD is a straight line, AEB + BED = 180 degrees.

Thus AEB = 120 degrees.

This violates Theorem 2 since E is clearly not the center of the circle. I'm honestly not sure what I'm doing wrong. I've stared at this on and off for a couple hours now. Thanks for any directions.
 
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marenubium said:

Homework Statement



This picture:
n015WjU.png


It's drawn with exactly the amount of information from the worksheet. Specifically, the two secants meet at a point, with an angle of 28 degrees between them. Both secants partition off an arc of 120 degrees. The goal is to find the arc labeled x.

Homework Equations



Theorem (1): If an angle's vertex lies on a circle, then the angle is equal to half of the subtended arc.
Theorem (2): An angle is a central angle IFF the subtended arc is equal to the measure of the angle.

The Attempt at a Solution



Visual aid:
http://i.imgur.com/14Xoqfz.png

I labeled the points where the secants touch the circle A, B, C, D I then drew the purple lines.

By theorem 1, angles ADB, CBD are both 60 degrees.

Thus angle BED is 60 degrees since BED is a triangle, formed out of three straight lines.

Since AD is a straight line, AEB + BED = 180 degrees.

Thus AEB = 120 degrees.

This violates Theorem 2 since E is clearly not the center of the circle. I'm honestly not sure what I'm doing wrong. I've stared at this on and off for a couple hours now. Thanks for any directions.
Use the central angles. Theorem 2 is not true for angle AEB. What is subtended arc?
 
Last edited:
Some more hints:

upload_2017-4-27_22-12-55.png

Determine the green angles, then the red ones. With the 28° angle and the red ones, you get the blue angle, and then x.
 
Thank you. I guess my problem is I forgot that I could manufacture central angles even though the figure didn't contain the center of the circle.
 
I picked up this problem from the Schaum's series book titled "College Mathematics" by Ayres/Schmidt. It is a solved problem in the book. But what surprised me was that the solution to this problem was given in one line without any explanation. I could, therefore, not understand how the given one-line solution was reached. The one-line solution in the book says: The equation is ##x \cos{\omega} +y \sin{\omega} - 5 = 0##, ##\omega## being the parameter. From my side, the only thing I could...

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