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HSG.C.A.3Common CoreMathGeometryGrades 9-12

HSG.C.A.3: Inscribed and Circumscribed Circles and Cyclic Quadrilaterals

In plain English: HSG.C.A.3 is the Common Core geometry standard that asks students to construct the inscribed and circumscribed circles of a triangle and to prove that opposite angles of a quadrilateral inscribed in a circle are supplementary. Angle bisectors locate the center of the inscribed circle and perpendicular bisectors locate the center of the circumscribed circle. It is usually taught in Geometry.

Construct the inscribed and circumscribed circles of a triangle, and prove properties of angles for a quadrilateral inscribed in a circle.

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics · Domain: Circles (C) · Cluster: Understand and apply theorems about circles
Also written as HSG-C.A.3 or G-C.3 · Official standard

01

Lesson Plan

65-70 min

Overview

Students construct the two special circles of a triangle with compass and straightedge. The circumscribed circle passes through all three vertices; its center, the circumcenter, is where the perpendicular bisectors of the sides meet, because every point on a perpendicular bisector is equidistant from the endpoints of that side. The inscribed circle touches all three sides; its center, the incenter, is where the angle bisectors meet, because every point on an angle bisector is equidistant from the sides of the angle.

Students then prove a property of angles for a quadrilateral inscribed in a circle: its opposite angles are supplementary. The proof uses the inscribed angle theorem from HSG.C.A.2, since the two opposite angles intercept arcs that together make the whole circle. Coordinates give students a way to check their constructions exactly.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • Construct the circumscribed circle of a triangle with compass and straightedge by locating the intersection of the perpendicular bisectors
  • Construct the inscribed circle of a triangle by locating the intersection of the angle bisectors and finding the radius along a perpendicular to a side
  • Explain why each construction works, using the equidistance properties of perpendicular bisectors and angle bisectors
  • Prove that opposite angles of a quadrilateral inscribed in a circle are supplementary, and use this to find unknown angles

Prior Knowledge Required

Students should already be comfortable with:

  • Constructing perpendicular bisectors, angle bisectors and perpendicular lines HSG.CO.D.12
  • Points on a perpendicular bisector are equidistant from the endpoints of the segment HSG.CO.C.9
  • The inscribed angle theorem: an inscribed angle is half its intercepted arc HSG.C.A.2
  • Midpoints, slopes of perpendicular lines and the distance formula HSG.GPE.B.5

Lesson Procedure

65-70 minutes of class time across 5 phases.

  1. Warm-Up10 minutes

    Show a map with three small towns and a triangular park bordered by three straight roads. Ask two questions side by side:

    Warm-Up Prompt

    "(1) Where should a cell tower go so that it is the same distance from all three towns? (2) Where should the center of the largest possible circular fountain go inside the park, so that it is the same distance from all three roads? Are these the same kind of point?"

    Let students sketch guesses. Guide them to see that question 1 is about distance to points (the vertices), and question 2 is about distance to lines (the sides). Recall the two facts from earlier constructions: points on a perpendicular bisector are equidistant from two points, and points on an angle bisector are equidistant from two lines. Tell students these two facts give the two constructions of the lesson.

  2. Direct Instruction25 minutes

    Part 1: Constructions. Demonstrate both constructions under a document camera, using Diagram 1. Students follow along on their own triangle.

    1. Circumscribed circle, step 1: construct the perpendicular bisectors of two sides. With the compass set wider than half the side, draw arcs from both endpoints above and below the side, and join the two crossing points.
    2. Circumscribed circle, step 2: mark the intersection O, the circumcenter. It is on both bisectors, so OA = OB and OB = OC. Put the compass point on O, open it to any vertex and draw the circle; it passes through all three vertices. The third bisector passes through O as well and serves as a check.
    3. Inscribed circle, step 1: construct the bisectors of two angles. From each vertex draw an arc that crosses both sides, then from those two crossing points draw equal arcs that meet inside the angle, and join the vertex to that point.
    4. Inscribed circle, step 2: mark the intersection I, the incenter. It is on both bisectors, so it is the same distance from all three sides.
    5. Inscribed circle, step 3: construct the perpendicular from I to one side and mark its foot F. IF is the radius. Draw the circle with center I through F; it touches each side at exactly one point.

    Stress step 5: the radius of the inscribed circle is the perpendicular distance to a side, not the distance to a vertex. Then connect to coordinates, where the constructions can be checked exactly, and to the proof about quadrilaterals.

    Part 2: Proof. Let ABCD be inscribed in a circle. Angle A is an inscribed angle that intercepts arc BCD, and angle C intercepts arc DAB. By the inscribed angle theorem, m∠A = (1/2) arc BCD and m∠C = (1/2) arc DAB. The two arcs together make the whole circle, so m∠A + m∠C = (1/2)(360°) = 180°. The same argument gives m∠B + m∠D = 180°. Use Diagram 2 to check the argument with actual numbers.

    • Circumscribed circle from coordinates

      Triangle A(0, 0), B(8, 0), C(2, 6). The perpendicular bisector of AB is x = 4, and the perpendicular bisector of AC passes through (1, 3) with slope -1/3.

      Equation: The bisectors meet at O(4, 2); OA = OB = OC = √20 = 2√5

    • Inscribed circle from coordinates

      Triangle B(0, 0), C(14, 0), A(5, 12) has sides 13, 14 and 15. Its angle bisectors meet at I(6, 4).

      Equation: The perpendicular from I to BC has foot (6, 0), so r = 4; check: area 84 ÷ semiperimeter 21 = 4

    • Circumscribed circle of a right triangle

      A right triangle has legs 6 and 8. Where is the circumcenter, and what is the radius?

      Equation: At the midpoint of the hypotenuse (length 10), so the radius is 5

    • Opposite angles of an inscribed quadrilateral

      ABCD is inscribed in a circle with m∠A = 82° and m∠B = 105°. Find m∠C and m∠D.

      Equation: m∠C = 180° - 82° = 98° and m∠D = 180° - 105° = 75°

    • Using the property with algebra

      In inscribed quadrilateral ABCD, m∠A = (3x + 4)° and m∠C = (2x + 11)°.

      Equation: (3x + 4) + (2x + 11) = 180, so x = 33, m∠A = 103° and m∠C = 77°

  3. Guided Practice10-15 minutes

    Pairs work three problems and compare with another pair: (a) construct the circumscribed circle of the right triangle with vertices (0, 0), (6, 0) and (0, 4), then confirm by coordinates that the center is the midpoint (3, 2) of the hypotenuse and the radius is √13; (b) a triangle has sides 5, 12 and 13; construct its inscribed circle on a scale drawing and confirm that the radius is 2 (area 30 ÷ semiperimeter 15); (c) quadrilateral ABCD is inscribed with m∠A = 67° and m∠B = 121°, find m∠C (113°) and m∠D (59°). Watch for students who bisect angles when they need perpendicular bisectors, and for students who add adjacent angles instead of opposite ones.

  4. Independent Practice15 minutes

    Students work alone: (a) construct the circumscribed circle of the triangle with vertices (1, 1), (7, 1) and (3, 5), and check that the center is (4, 2) with radius √10; (b) construct the inscribed circle of an equilateral triangle with side 12 cm, measure the radius and compare with the exact value 2√3 ≈ 3.46 cm, then explain why the incenter and circumcenter are the same point here; (c) in inscribed quadrilateral PQRS, m∠P = (2y)° and m∠R = (y + 30)°, find y and both angles (y = 50, 100° and 80°).

  5. Closure5 minutes

    Exit ticket: "(1) Which lines do you construct to find the center of the circumscribed circle, and which for the inscribed circle? (2) How do you find the radius of the inscribed circle once you have its center? (3) Quadrilateral WXYZ is inscribed in a circle and m∠W = 118°. Find m∠Y." (Answers: perpendicular bisectors of the sides; angle bisectors; the perpendicular distance from the incenter to a side; 62°.)

Differentiation Strategies

For Struggling Students

  • Provide a two-column card: circumscribed circle, perpendicular bisectors, through the vertices; inscribed circle, angle bisectors, touches the sides
  • Start the inscribed circle by paper folding: fold each angle so its sides line up, and the creases meet at the incenter
  • Give a proof frame for the quadrilateral property with the arc names filled in and the reasons left blank

For Advanced Students

  • Prove that the three perpendicular bisectors of a triangle always meet at one point, and explain where it lies for acute, right and obtuse triangles
  • Show that the inradius of any triangle equals its area divided by its semiperimeter, by splitting the triangle into three triangles with vertex I
  • Going further: prove the converse, that a quadrilateral whose opposite angles are supplementary can be inscribed in a circle

Assessment Guidance

What to Look For

For constructions, look for visible compass arcs, not lines drawn by eye, and a check with the third bisector. For the inscribed circle, check that the radius was taken along a perpendicular to a side. For the proof, look for the arcs named correctly (angle A intercepts arc BCD, the arc that does not contain A), the inscribed angle theorem cited as the reason, and the step that the two arcs add up to 360°. A student who only measures four angles and finds they add in pairs to 180° has an example, not a proof.

02

Classroom Activities

3 Activities

1

Place the Cell Tower

20 minPairs

Three towns sit at grid points on a map where each unit is 1 km: Alder at (2, 1), Birch at (12, 1) and Cedar at (4, 7). Pairs construct the circumscribed circle of the triangle to find the point equidistant from all three towns, then check the construction with coordinates.

Procedure

  • Construct the perpendicular bisectors of two sides with compass and straightedge and mark their intersection
  • Construct the third bisector as a check: it must pass through the same point
  • Draw the circle through the three towns and measure its radius with the grid
  • Check with coordinates: the bisector of Alder-Birch is x = 7, and the tower should be at (7, 8/3), about 5.3 km from each town

Discussion Questions

  • Why is every point on the perpendicular bisector of Alder-Birch the same distance from those two towns?
  • If Cedar moved to (7, 0.5), the triangle would be obtuse. Where would the tower go?
  • Why do you need only two bisectors to find the center?

Modification for Distance Learning

Pairs use a free dynamic geometry tool: plot the three towns, use the perpendicular bisector tool, and drag one town to see how the circumcenter moves inside, onto and outside the triangle.

2

The Largest Fountain in the Plaza

20 minPairs

A triangular plaza has sides of 30 m, 40 m and 50 m. The city wants the largest possible circular fountain inside it. Students construct the inscribed circle on a 1 cm = 5 m scale drawing and find the fountain's radius.

Procedure

  • Draw the plaza as a 6 cm by 8 cm by 10 cm triangle
  • Construct the bisectors of two angles and mark the incenter; construct the third as a check
  • Construct the perpendicular from the incenter to one side, and set the compass to that length to draw the circle
  • Measure the radius (2 cm on the drawing, so 10 m in the plaza) and confirm: area 600 m² ÷ semiperimeter 60 m = 10 m

Discussion Questions

  • Why would a fountain centered at the circumcenter not fit inside the plaza?
  • A student used the distance from the incenter to a corner as the radius. What would happen?
  • Does the fountain touch each side at the midpoint of that side?

Paper Folding Variation

Cut out the triangle and fold each angle so its two sides lie on top of each other. The three creases are the angle bisectors and meet at the incenter.

3

Inscribed Quadrilateral Proof

20 minGroups of 3-4

Groups collect data from inscribed quadrilaterals, write the proof that opposite angles are supplementary, and test which familiar quadrilaterals can be inscribed in a circle.

Procedure

  • Each student draws a circle and four points on it, joins them in order and measures all four angles; the group records the sums of opposite angles
  • The group writes a proof: name the arc each angle intercepts, apply the inscribed angle theorem and add the arcs
  • Use the property to test figures: can a rectangle, a non-square rhombus or a parallelogram with a 70° angle be inscribed? (Only the rectangle: the others have opposite angles that are equal but not 90°, so they cannot add to 180°.)

Discussion Questions

  • Why do the two intercepted arcs always add up to 360°?
  • What must be true of a parallelogram that is inscribed in a circle?
  • Does the proof need the center of the circle to be inside the quadrilateral?

Challenge Variation

Going further: groups investigate the converse with dynamic geometry. Draw a quadrilateral whose opposite angles are supplementary, construct the circle through three of its vertices, and check whether the fourth vertex lies on it.

03

Diagrams & Visual Aids

2 diagrams

Diagram 1: Constructing the Circumscribed and Inscribed Circles

Circumscribed circle perpendicular bisectors meet at O A B C O A(0, 0), B(8, 0), C(2, 6); O(4, 2), radius 2√5 Inscribed circle angle bisectors meet at I B C A I r = 4 B(0, 0), C(14, 0), A(5, 12); I(6, 4), radius 4
Left: the perpendicular bisectors of the sides of triangle A(0, 0), B(8, 0), C(2, 6) meet at O(4, 2), which is 2√5 from every vertex, so the circle through the vertices has center O. Right: the angle bisectors of triangle B(0, 0), C(14, 0), A(5, 12) meet at I(6, 4). The perpendicular from I to BC has length 4, the radius of the inscribed circle, which touches each side once. Both triangles are drawn to scale.

Diagram 2: Opposite Angles of an Inscribed Quadrilateral

102° A 95° B 78° C 85° D Arcs: AB = 60°, BC = 110°, CD = 94°, DA = 96° Angle A intercepts arc BCD = 110° + 94° = 204°, so angle A = 204°/2 = 102°. Angle C intercepts arc DAB = 96° + 60° = 156°, so angle C = 156°/2 = 78°. The two arcs make the whole circle: A + C = (204° + 156°)/2 = 360°/2 = 180°. In the same way, B + D = 95° + 85° = 180°.
ABCD is inscribed in a circle with arcs of 60°, 110°, 94° and 96°. Each angle is half the arc it intercepts, so m∠A = 102°, m∠B = 95°, m∠C = 78° and m∠D = 85°. Opposite angles intercept arcs that together make the whole 360° circle, so each pair adds to 180°. The vertices are placed exactly from the arc measures.

04

Homework Assignment

~30 min

HSG.C.A.3 Homework: Inscribed and Circumscribed Circles

Directions: Do each construction with compass and straightedge on graph paper and leave every arc visible. Then check it with coordinates or a calculation. Give a reason for every step of a proof.

Part 1: Constructions (Problems 1-3)

  1. Plot P(0, 0), Q(10, 0) and R(4, 8). Construct the circumscribed circle of triangle PQR. Then find the exact coordinates of its center and its radius, and show that the center is the same distance from all three vertices.
  2. Plot D(0, 0), E(12, 0) and F(0, 9). Construct the inscribed circle of triangle DEF. Measure its radius, then confirm it by dividing the area of the triangle by its semiperimeter, and give the coordinates of the center.
  3. Plot J(0, 0), K(10, 0) and L(2, 3). Construct the circumscribed circle of triangle JKL. Find the exact center, state whether it is inside, on or outside the triangle, and explain what property of the triangle causes this.

Part 2: Inscribed Quadrilaterals (Problems 4-5)

  1. Quadrilateral JKLM is inscribed in a circle with m∠J = 94° and m∠K = 71°. Find m∠L and m∠M.
  2. Quadrilateral ABCD is inscribed in a circle with m∠A = (4x - 6)°, m∠B = (2x + 13)° and m∠C = (x + 21)°. Find x and all four angles.

Part 3: Proof (Problem 6)

  1. Write a proof that opposite angles of a quadrilateral inscribed in a circle are supplementary. Then use the result to prove that a parallelogram inscribed in a circle must be a rectangle.

Rubric

CriterionFull Credit (2 pts)Partial Credit (1 pt)No Credit (0 pts)
ConstructionsCorrect bisectors with visible arcs; circle through vertices or touching sidesCorrect lines but circle or radius inaccurateWrong lines used or no construction
Coordinate CheckExact center and radius, with equal distances shownCenter correct, radius or check missingIncorrect
Quadrilateral AnglesAll angles correct using opposite-angle pairsOne pair correctAdjacent angles paired or incorrect
ProofArcs named, theorem cited, 360° step shown; rectangle argument completeMain proof complete, rectangle argument missingNo valid argument

05

Quiz: 20 Questions

Interactive, with answers

Instructions

Work through the questions in order. Your score updates as you answer, and Reset quiz clears everything so you or your students can try again.

Multiple choice: pick an option to check it. Short answer: write your answer, then reveal the model answer.

0 of 20 answered · 0 correct

  1. Question 1 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    To construct the circumscribed circle of a triangle, which lines do you construct to find its center?

  2. Question 2 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    To construct the inscribed circle of a triangle, which lines do you construct to find its center?

  3. Question 3 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    After finding the incenter I of a triangle, how do you set the compass to draw the inscribed circle?

  4. Question 4 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    Where is the circumcenter of a right triangle?

  5. Question 5 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    What is the center of the circumscribed circle of the triangle with vertices (0, 0), (6, 0) and (0, 8)?

  6. Question 6 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    A right triangle has legs 20 and 21 and hypotenuse 29. What is the radius of its inscribed circle?

  7. Question 7 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    Quadrilateral ABCD is inscribed in a circle and m∠A = 72°. What is m∠C?

  8. Question 8 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    Quadrilateral ABCD is inscribed in a circle and m∠B = 97°. What is m∠D?

  9. Question 9 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    Which kind of quadrilateral can always be inscribed in a circle?

  10. Question 10 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    In inscribed quadrilateral ABCD, m∠A = (5x + 10)° and m∠C = (3x + 10)°. What is x?

  11. Question 11 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    In the proof that opposite angles A and C of inscribed quadrilateral ABCD are supplementary, which reason is correct?

  12. Question 12 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    Where is the circumcenter of an obtuse triangle?

  13. Question 13 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    What is the center of the circumscribed circle of the triangle with vertices (0, 0), (8, 0) and (4, 8)?

  14. Question 14 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    A park district wants a first-aid station that is the same distance from three schools. Which point of the triangle formed by the schools should it use?

  15. Question 15 of 20 · Short Answer

    A triangle has vertices (0, 0), (15, 0) and (0, 20). Find the radius and the center of its inscribed circle.

  16. Question 16 of 20 · Short Answer

    Find the center and radius of the circumscribed circle of the triangle with vertices A(0, 0), B(10, 0) and C(6, 6).

  17. Question 17 of 20 · Short Answer

    Quadrilateral ABCD is inscribed in a circle with m∠A = 88° and m∠B = 99°. Find m∠C and m∠D.

  18. Question 18 of 20 · Short Answer

    Write a paragraph proof that opposite angles B and D of an inscribed quadrilateral ABCD are supplementary.

  19. Question 19 of 20 · Short Answer

    Explain why the point where the angle bisectors of a triangle meet is the center of a circle that touches all three sides.

  20. Question 20 of 20 · Short Answer

    A quadrilateral has angles of 110°, 75°, 80° and 95°, in order around the figure. Can it be inscribed in a circle? Explain.

0 of 20 answered · 0 correct

06

Frequently Asked Questions

10 Questions

What does HSG.C.A.3 mean?

HSG.C.A.3 asks students to do two things: construct the inscribed and circumscribed circles of a triangle, and prove properties of the angles of a quadrilateral inscribed in a circle. The main property is that opposite angles of an inscribed quadrilateral are supplementary.

Is HSG.C.A.3 taught in Geometry or Algebra 2?

It is usually taught in high school Geometry, in the circles unit, after the basic constructions (HSG.CO.D.12) and the inscribed angle theorem (HSG.C.A.2).

What is the difference between the incenter and the circumcenter?

The incenter is the center of the inscribed circle: it is where the angle bisectors meet, and it is the same distance from all three sides. The circumcenter is the center of the circumscribed circle: it is where the perpendicular bisectors of the sides meet, and it is the same distance from all three vertices.

Why do perpendicular bisectors locate the center of the circumscribed circle?

Every point on the perpendicular bisector of a segment is equidistant from the segment's endpoints. The point on two bisectors is equidistant from all three vertices, so a circle centered there passes through all three. That same point must also lie on the third bisector.

How do you find the radius of the inscribed circle?

Construct the perpendicular from the incenter to any side; the length of that segment is the radius. Measuring from the incenter to a vertex is a common error and gives a circle that crosses the sides. As a numerical check, the radius equals the area of the triangle divided by its semiperimeter.

Where is the circumcenter of acute, right and obtuse triangles?

It is inside an acute triangle, at the midpoint of the hypotenuse of a right triangle, and outside an obtuse triangle, beyond the longest side. The incenter, by contrast, is always inside the triangle.

Why are opposite angles of an inscribed quadrilateral supplementary?

Each of the two opposite angles is an inscribed angle, so each is half of the arc it intercepts. Those two arcs together make the whole circle, 360°, so the angles add to half of 360°, which is 180°.

Can every quadrilateral be inscribed in a circle?

No. A quadrilateral can be inscribed only if its opposite angles are supplementary. A rhombus or parallelogram with a 70° angle cannot be inscribed, while every rectangle and every isosceles trapezoid can. Proving that supplementary opposite angles guarantee a circle (the converse) goes beyond this standard.

What tools can students use for these constructions?

Compass and straightedge are the classic tools. Paper folding works well for angle bisectors and perpendicular bisectors, and dynamic geometry software lets students drag vertices and watch the centers move. Whatever the tool, students should explain why the construction works.

What mistakes do students make on HSG.C.A.3?

Common errors include:

  • using angle bisectors for the circumscribed circle or perpendicular bisectors for the inscribed circle
  • setting the inscribed circle's radius to the distance from the incenter to a vertex
  • adding adjacent angles of an inscribed quadrilateral instead of opposite ones
  • checking four measured angles and calling it a proof