Questions on Geometry: Triangles answered by real tutors!

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Question 148657: triangle ABC is inscribed in a circle. given that AB is a 40 degree arc and ABC is a 50 degree angle, find the sizes of the other arcs and angles in the figure.
thankyou:]
: triangle ABC is inscribed in a circle. given that AB is a 40 degree arc and ABC is a 50 degree angle, find the sizes of the other arcs and angles in the figure.
thankyou:]

Answer by Edwin McCravy(2043) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Triangle ABC is inscribed in a circle. given that AB is a 40 degree arc and ABC is a 50 degree angle, find the sizes of the other arcs and angles in the figure

drawing(400,400,-1.5,1.5,-1.5,1.5, circle(0,0,1),
triangle(-1,0,-.7660444431,.6427876097,.17364818,-.9848078),
locate(-1.1,.4,'40°'), locate(-.82,.45,'50°'), locate(-1.1,.1,'A'),
locate(-.9,.7,'B'),locate(.2,-1,'C') )

Angle ACB is an inscribed angle, subtending a 40° arc.
An inscribed angle has 1/2 the measure of its inscribed arc.
Therefore angle ACB has measure 20°, so we write that in:

drawing(400,400,-1.5,1.5,-1.5,1.5, circle(0,0,1),
triangle(-1,0,-.7660444431,.6427876097,.17364818,-.9848078),
locate(-1.1,.4,'40°'), locate(-.82,.45,'50°'), locate(-1.1,.1,'A'),
locate(-.9,.7,'B'),locate(.2,-1,'C'),locate(-.27,-.5,'20°') )

Since the three angles of any triangle total 180°, we find the 
remaining angle BAC by adding 50°+20°, getting 70°, then subtracting
from 180° and getting 110°, so we write that in for angle BAC:

drawing(400,400,-1.5,1.5,-1.5,1.5, circle(0,0,1),
triangle(-1,0,-.7660444431,.6427876097,.17364818,-.9848078),
locate(-1.1,.4,'40°'), locate(-.82,.45,'50°'), locate(-1.1,.1,'A'),
locate(-.9,.7,'B'),locate(.2,-1,'C'),locate(-.27,-.5,'20°'),
locate(-.95,.1,'110°')  )

The inscribed angle at B is 50°. It subtends arc AC, and since it 
is 1/2 of the measure of its inscribed arc, the arc AC must be
2x50° or 100°, so we write in 100° for arc AC:

drawing(400,400,-1.5,1.5,-1.5,1.5, circle(0,0,1),
triangle(-1,0,-.7660444431,.6427876097,.17364818,-.9848078),
locate(-1.1,.4,'40°'), locate(-.82,.45,'50°'), locate(-1.1,.1,'A'),
locate(-.9,.7,'B'),locate(.2,-1,'C'),locate(-.27,-.5,'20°'),
locate(-.95,.1,'110°'), locate(-.9,-.8,'100°')  )

The big major arc going clockwise from B around to C is subtended by 
the 110° angle at A.  And since it is 1/2 of the measure of its 
inscribed arc, the large major arc BC must be 2x110° or 220°, so we 
write in 220° for major arc BC, going clockwise from B around to C:

drawing(400,400,-1.5,1.5,-1.5,1.5, circle(0,0,1),
triangle(-1,0,-.7660444431,.6427876097,.17364818,-.9848078),
locate(-1.1,.4,'40°'), locate(-.82,.45,'50°'), locate(-1.1,.1,'A'),
locate(-.9,.7,'B'),locate(.2,-1,'C'),locate(-.27,-.5,'20°'),
locate(-.95,.1,'110°'), locate(-.9,-.8,'100°'), locate(.9,.5,'220°'))

Notice as a partial check that the three arcs have sum 360°.

minor are AB =  40²
minor arc AC = 100°
major arc BC = 220°
-------------------
       total = 360°

Edwin