Angles Related to a Circle

neno89

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Oct 25, 2005
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Hey..can someone help me solve this problem. I am confused.

334vp.png


Given: segment WZ is congruent to segment XY. Arc WXY = 200 degrees.
Find: measure of angle P

Thank you for your help!
 
Hello, neno89!

Recall this theorem:
If two secants are drawn to a circle from an external point,
the included angle is one-half the differnce of the intercepted arcs.

In your diagram: \(\displaystyle \,\angle P\;=\;\frac{1}{2}\left(\overline{WX}\,-\,\overline{ZY}\right)\)


We are told that: \(\displaystyle \,\overline{WXY}\:=\:200^o\;\;\Rightarrow\;\;\overline{WX}\,+\,\overline{XY}\:=\:200^o\;\;\) [1]

Then: \(\displaystyle \,\overline{WZY}\:=\:160^o\;\;\Rightarrow\;\;\overline{WZ}\,+\,\overline{ZY}\:=\:160^o\;\;\) [2]

Subtract [2] from [1]: \(\displaystyle \,(\overline{WX}\,+\,\overline{XY})\,-\,(\overline{WZ}\,+\,\overline{ZY})\:=\:40^o\)

We have: \(\displaystyle \,\overline{WX}\,+\,\overline{XY}\,-\,\overline{WZ}\,-\,\overline{ZY}\:=\:40^o\)

\(\displaystyle \;\;\)But \(\displaystyle WZ\,=\,XY\), hence: \(\displaystyle \,\overline{WZ}\,=\,\overline{XY}.\;\;\) (Equal chords subtend equal arcs)


Our equation becomes: \(\displaystyle \overline{WX}\,-\,\overline{ZY}\:=\:40^o\) . . . the difference of the intercepted arcs!

Therefore: \(\displaystyle \,\angle P\:=\:\frac{1}{2}(40^o)\:=\:20^o\)
 
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