Geometry m5 Topic A Lesson 3 Teacher
Geometry m5 Topic A Lesson 3 Teacher
Geometry m5 Topic A Lesson 3 Teacher
GEOMETRY
Student Outcomes
Inscribe a rectangle in a circle.
Understand the symmetries of inscribed rectangles across a diameter.
Lesson Notes
Have students use a compass and straightedge to locate the center of the circle provided. If necessary, remind students
of their work in Module 1 on constructing a perpendicular to a segment and of their work in Lesson 1 in this module on
Thales’ theorem. Standards addressed with this lesson are G-C.A.2 and G-C.A.3.
Students should be made aware that figures are not drawn to scale.
Classwork Scaffolding:
Opening Exercise (9 minutes) Display steps to construct a
perpendicular line at a point.
Students follow the steps provided and use a compass and straightedge to find the
center of a circle. This exercise reminds students about constructions previously Draw a segment through the
studied that are needed in this lesson and later in this module. point, and, using a compass,
mark a point equidistant on
Opening Exercise
each side of the point.
Using only a compass and straightedge, find the location of the center of the circle below. Label the endpoints of the
Follow the steps provided. segment 𝐴 and 𝐵.
̅̅̅̅.
Draw chord 𝑨𝑩 Draw circle 𝐴 with center 𝐴
̅̅̅̅ at
Construct a chord perpendicular to 𝑨𝑩 and radius ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 .
endpoint 𝑩.
Mark the point of intersection of the
Draw circle 𝐵 with center 𝐵
perpendicular chord and the circle as point and radius ̅̅̅̅
𝐵𝐴.
𝑪. Label the points of intersection
̅̅̅̅
𝑨𝑪 is a diameter of the circle. Construct a as 𝐶 and 𝐷.
second diameter in the same way.
Where the two diameters meet is the center Draw ⃡𝐶𝐷 .
of the circle. For students struggling with
constructions due to eye-hand
coordination or fine motor
difficulties, provide set squares
to construct perpendicular
lines and segments.
For advanced learners, give
directions without steps and
have them construct from
memory.
The center is equidistant from all points on the circle. Since the diameter goes through the center, the intersection of any
two diameters is a point on both diameters and must be the center.
Exploratory Challenge
Construct a rectangle such that all four vertices of the rectangle lie on the circle below.
Suppose we wanted to construct a rectangle with vertices on the circle, but we did not want to use a triangle.
Is there a way we could do this? Explain.
We can construct a chord anywhere on the circle, then construct the perpendicular to one of its
endpoints, and then repeat this twice more to construct our rectangle.
How can you be sure that the figure in the second construction is a rectangle?
We know it is a rectangle because all four angles are right angles.
Relevant Vocabulary
INSCRIBED POLYGON: A polygon is inscribed in a circle if all vertices of the polygon lie on the circle.
Exercises
1. Construct a kite inscribed in the circle below, and explain the construction using symmetry.
Construct △ 𝑨𝑩𝑪 as in the Opening Exercise, but this time reflect it across the diameter. It is a kite because, by
reflection, there are two opposite pairs of congruent adjacent sides.
2. Given a circle and a rectangle, what must be true about the rectangle for it to be possible to inscribe a congruent
copy of it in the circle?
The diagonals of the rectangle must be the length of the diameter of the circle.
Opposite sides are parallel and congruent, four right angles, and diagonals are congruent and bisect each
other.
Opposite sides are congruent, all four angles are congruent, diagonals are congruent, the figure may be
reflected onto itself across the perpendicular bisector of the sides of the rectangle, and the figure may be
rotated onto itself with either a 𝟏𝟖𝟎° or a 𝟑𝟔𝟎° rotation.
Opposite sides are parallel; all sides are congruent; four right angles; diagonals are congruent, bisect each
other, and are perpendicular.
In addition to the symmetries listed in (b), all four sides are congruent, the figure may be reflected onto itself
across the diagonals of the square, and the figure may be rotated onto itself with either a 𝟗𝟎° or a 𝟐𝟕𝟎°
rotation either clockwise or counterclockwise.
4. A rectangle is inscribed into a circle. The rectangle is cut along one of its diagonals and reflected across that
diagonal to form a kite. Draw the kite and its diagonals. Find all the angles in this new diagram, given that the acute
angle formed by the diagonal of the rectangle in the original diagram was 𝟒𝟎°.
Since a reflection is a rigid motion, 𝒎∠𝑨𝑫𝑩 = 𝒎∠𝑩𝑫𝑬 = 𝟒𝟎°, 𝒎∠𝑩𝑨𝑫 = 𝒎∠𝑩𝑬𝑫 = 𝟗𝟎°, 𝒎∠𝑨𝑩𝑫 =
𝒎∠𝑬𝑩𝑫 = 𝟓𝟎°. Then, 𝒎∠𝑨𝑩𝑬 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎° and 𝒎∠𝑨𝑫𝑬 = 𝟖𝟎°.
5. Challenge: Show that the three vertices of a right triangle are equidistant from the midpoint of the hypotenuse by
showing that the perpendicular bisectors of the legs pass through
the midpoint of the hypotenuse.
a. Draw the perpendicular bisectors of 𝑨𝑩 ̅̅̅̅.
̅̅̅̅ and 𝑨𝑪
d. Repeat this process, this time sliding 𝑩 to another place on the circle and call it 𝑩′. What do you notice?
Closing (1 minute)
Have students discuss the question with a neighbor or in groups of three. Call the class back together, and review the
definition below.
Explain how the symmetry of a rectangle across the diameter of a circle helps inscribe a rectangle in a circle.
Since the rectangle is composed of two right triangles with the diameter as the hypotenuse, it is
possible to construct one right triangle and then reflect it across the diameter.
Lesson Summary
Relevant Vocabulary
INSCRIBED POLYGON: A polygon is inscribed in a circle if all vertices of the polygon lie on the circle.
Name Date
Exit Ticket
̅̅̅̅ could pass through the center, but it does not have
Rectangle 𝑨𝑩𝑪𝑫 is inscribed in circle 𝑷. Boris says that diagonal 𝑨𝑪
to pass through the center. Is Boris correct? Explain your answer in words, or draw a picture to help you explain your
thinking.
Boris is not correct. Since each vertex of the rectangle is a right angle, the hypotenuse of the right triangle formed by
each angle and the diagonal of the rectangle must be the diameter of the circle (by the work done in Lesson 1 of this
module). The diameter of the circle passes through the center of the circle; therefore, the diagonal passes through the
center.
1. Using only a piece of 𝟖. 𝟓 × 𝟏𝟏 inch copy paper and a pencil, find the location of the center of the circle below.
Lay the paper across the circle so that its corner lies on the circle. The points where the two edges of the paper cross
the circle are the endpoints of a diameter. Mark those points, and draw the diameter using the edge of the paper as
a straightedge. Repeat to get a second diameter. The intersection of the two diameters is the center of the circle.
No, although it is possible to construct an inscribed polygon with one pair of parallel sides (i.e., a trapezoid); a
parallelogram requires that both pairs of opposite sides be parallel and both pairs of opposite angles be congruent.
A parallelogram is symmetric by 𝟏𝟖𝟎° rotation about its center and has NO other symmetry unless it is a rectangle.
Two parallel lines and a circle create a figure that is symmetric by a reflection across the line through the center of
the circle that is perpendicular to the two lines. If a trapezoid is formed with vertices where the parallel lines meet
the circle, the trapezoid has reflectional symmetry. Therefore, it cannot be a parallelogram—unless it is a rectangle.
𝟐√𝟏𝟑
5. 𝑫𝑭 and ̅̅̅̅
In the figure, ̅̅̅̅ 𝑬𝑯 ⊥ ̅̅̅̅
𝑩𝑮 are parallel chords 𝟏𝟒 𝐜𝐦 apart. 𝑫𝑭 = 𝟏𝟐 𝐜𝐦, 𝑨𝑩 = 𝟏𝟎 𝐜𝐦, and ̅̅̅̅̅ 𝑩𝑮.
Find 𝑩𝑮.
6. Use perpendicular bisectors of the sides of a triangle to construct a circle that circumscribes the triangle.
Using the center and the distance to one vertex as a radius, draw the circle.