⭕ SAT MATH — CIRCLES
Complete Notes & Formula Sheet
1. Key Terminology
Term Definition
Radius (r) Distance from centre to any point on the circle
Diameter (d) d = 2r — chord passing through the centre
Chord Line segment with both endpoints on the circle
Arc Part of the circumference between two points
Sector Pie-slice region bounded by two radii and an arc
Segment Region between a chord and the arc it cuts off
Tangent Line that touches the circle at exactly one point (perpendicular to
radius)
Secant Line that intersects the circle at two points
Inscribed angle Angle formed by two chords with vertex ON the circle
Central angle Angle with vertex at the CENTRE of the circle
2. Core Formulas
📐 Basic Measurements
Circumference C = 2πr = πd r = radius, d = diameter
Area A = πr² Always use radius, never
diameter
Diameter d = 2r Most common substitution
error!
🥧 Arcs & Sectors
All arc/sector formulas use a proportion: (central angle / 360°) of the full circle.
Arc Length L = (θ/360) × 2πr θ = central angle in degrees
Sector Area A = (θ/360) × πr² θ = central angle in degrees
Radians version L = rθ | A = ½r²θ θ must be in RADIANS
⚡ Arc & Sector Trick
• Always write the fraction (θ/360) FIRST before multiplying — it avoids errors.
• If the angle is in radians, convert to degrees: degrees = radians × (180/π)
• SAT often gives a fraction of the circle (e.g. '1/4 of the circle') — just replace (θ/360) with that
fraction directly.
3. Equation of a Circle
Standard Form
Standard Form (x − h)² + (y − k)² = r² Centre = (h, k), Radius = r
⚠️Watch the signs: (x − 3)² + (y + 2)² = 25 → centre is (3, −2), not (−3, 2)!
📝 Example: Find the centre and radius of (x + 4)² + (y − 1)² = 49
✅ Solution: Rewrite as (x − (−4))² + (y − 1)² = 7² → Centre = (−4, 1), Radius = 7
General Form → Standard Form (Completing the Square)
The SAT often gives the equation in general form: x² + y² + Dx + Ey + F = 0
Steps to convert:
1. Group x-terms and y-terms: (x² + Dx) + (y² + Ey) = −F
2. Complete the square for x: add (D/2)² to both sides
3. Complete the square for y: add (E/2)² to both sides
4. Factorise each group into a perfect square
📝 Example: Convert x² + y² − 6x + 4y − 3 = 0 to standard form
✅ Solution: (x² − 6x + 9) + (y² + 4y + 4) = 3 + 9 + 4 → (x − 3)² + (y + 2)² = 16 → Centre (3,
−2), r = 4
⚡ Completing the Square Tips
• Always add (D/2)² to BOTH sides — not just the left side.
• If the x² coefficient isn't 1, divide the entire equation first.
• Quick check: r² must be positive. If you get a negative value, the equation has no real circle.
4. Angle Theorems (High-Yield SAT Topics)
Theorem Formula Key Fact
Central Angle = intercepted arc Angle = Arc (same number)
Inscribed Angle = ½ × intercepted arc Half the central angle
Inscribed in semicircle = 90° Angle on diameter is always
90°
Two inscribed angles equal if same arc Same arc → same inscribed
angle
Tangent-chord angle = ½ × intercepted arc Same rule as inscribed
angle
Two chords intersect inside angle = ½(arc1 + arc2) Average of intercepted arcs
Two secants from outside angle = ½(far arc − near arc) Subtract smaller arc from
larger
📝 Example: An inscribed angle intercepts an arc of 110°. What is the inscribed angle?
✅ Solution: Inscribed angle = ½ × 110° = 55°
📝 Example: Two chords intersect inside a circle. The intercepted arcs are 80° and 40°.
Find the angle.
✅ Solution: Angle = ½(80° + 40°) = ½(120°) = 60°
5. Tangent Properties
• A tangent is PERPENDICULAR to the radius at the point of tangency
• Two tangents from an external point are EQUAL in length
• Tangent² = External segment × Whole secant (Power of a Point)
Power of a Point t² = a(a + b) t = tangent length, a = external
part, b = chord inside
📝 Example: A tangent from external point P has length 8. A secant from P has external
segment 4 and passes through the circle. Find the whole secant length.
✅ Solution: 8² = 4 × whole → 64 = 4 × whole → whole = 16
⚡ Tangent Right Angle — Most Common SAT Use
• If a line is tangent to a circle at point T, and O is the centre, then angle OTP = 90°.
• This lets you use the Pythagorean theorem: OP² = OT² + TP²
• SAT LOVES this — if you see a tangent and a line to the centre, immediately draw a right
triangle.
6. Chord Theorems
Intersecting Chords (inside circle)
Chord-Chord a × b = c × d Two chords: segments a,b and
c,d
📝 Example: Two chords intersect. One chord has segments 3 and 8. The other has
segment 6 and x. Find x.
✅ Solution: 3 × 8 = 6 × x → 24 = 6x → x = 4
Perpendicular from Centre to Chord
• The perpendicular from the centre BISECTS the chord
• This creates a right triangle: use Pythagoras with radius as hypotenuse
📝 Example: A chord is 16 cm long. The radius is 10 cm. Find the distance from the centre
to the chord.
✅ Solution: Half chord = 8. Distance² + 8² = 10² → d² = 100 − 64 = 36 → d = 6 cm
7. Radians & the Unit Circle (SAT Math)
Degrees → Radians rad = deg × π/180 Multiply degrees by π/180
Radians → Degrees deg = rad × 180/π Multiply radians by 180/π
Degrees Radians sin cos
0° 0 0 1
30° π/6 1/2 √3/2
45° π/4 √2/2 √2/2
60° π/3 √3/2 1/2
90° π/2 1 0
180° π 0 −1
270° 3π/2 −1 0
360° 2π 0 1
8. Common SAT Mistakes — Don't Fall For These!
⚡ ❌ Mistake #1: Using Diameter Instead of Radius in Area/Circumference
• A = πr² NOT πd². If the problem gives diameter, halve it first.
• C = 2πr = πd — both work but be consistent.
⚡ ❌ Mistake #2: Wrong Sign in Centre Coordinates
• (x − 3)² + (y + 5)² = 16 → Centre is (3, −5), NOT (−3, 5)
• Rewrite +5 as −(−5) to read the sign correctly.
⚡ ❌ Mistake #3: Forgetting to Add to Both Sides When Completing the Square
• If you add (D/2)² to the left, you MUST add it to the right side too.
• Track all additions carefully — one slip ruins the whole equation.
⚡ ❌ Mistake #4: Confusing Inscribed Angle with Central Angle
• Central angle = arc measure (1:1 ratio)
• Inscribed angle = HALF the arc measure (1:2 ratio)
9. ⚡ Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
FORMULA USE WHEN...
C = 2πr Finding circumference / arc length
setup
A = πr² Finding area / sector area setup
Arc = (θ/360) × 2πr Partial circumference given angle
Sector = (θ/360) × πr² Partial area given angle
(x−h)² + (y−k)² = r² Circle on coordinate grid
Inscribed angle = ½ arc Angle vertex ON the circle
Central angle = arc Angle vertex AT the centre
t² = a(a+b) Tangent + secant from external
point
a × b = c × d Two chords intersecting inside
circle
Tangent ⊥ radius Any time a tangent is mentioned
SAT Math — Circles Notes | Pathways World School | Good luck! 🌟