Thales' Theorem

Key concept

Thales' Theorem says a triangle formed by the diameter and any other point on the circle is always a right-angled triangle. Since a triangle's angles add to 180°, subtract the 90° and the known angle to find the missing angle.

Thales' Theorem - introduction visual

Video Lesson

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Thales' Theorem poster

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Flashcards

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Explanation of Thales's Theorem with a diagram showing a right-angled triangle formed by a diameter and any point on a semicircle.Diagram for Thales' theorem with triangle inscribed in a semicircle, showing a right angle at point C and interior angles A = 35° and B = 55°.Semicircle with diameter AB, triangle ACB showing angle ACB as 90° using Thales's theorem, with marked angles 40°, 50°, and 90°.

Thales’ Theorem: What It Says

  • If one side of a triangle is the diameter of a circle, the opposite angle is .
  • This angle is always a right angle, wherever the point is on the circle.

Thales’ Theorem: How to Use It

  • First, find the diameter of the circle.
  • Then mark the angle opposite the diameter on the circle as .

Thales’ Theorem: Finding Other Angles

  • All angles in a triangle add up to .
  • Subtract and the given angle to find the missing angle.

Practice Questions

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Progress1 / 6
Q1Easy

In the following diagram, AB is the diameter of a semicircle, and C is a point on the circle. What is ?

Question 1 diagram
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Interactive Activity

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Students Also Ask

The questions students bump into most on this topic

Yes. Any point on the circle, joined to both ends of the diameter, gives an angle of 90°. It does not matter where you place that point on the curve. Each one creates a right-angled triangle, which is exactly what Thales's Theorem promises.

The right angle sits at the point on the circle, the corner that does not lie on the diameter. When you join that point to both ends of the diameter, the angle formed there is 90°. In the worked examples this is angle C, or angle ACB.

First, use Thales's Theorem to mark the right angle as 90°. Then use the fact that the interior angles of a triangle add up to 180°. Subtract the right angle and any known angle from 180° to find the missing angle.

You need a diameter of the circle and a point on the circle joined to both of its ends. The diameter is essential, so always identify it first. Once it is in place, the angle at the point on the circle is 90°.

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