← Back to all activities 📖 Read the article 한국어 →
⚪ Inscribed Angle Lab

Move point P around the circle,
and the inscribed angle stays the same

The inscribed angle (∠APB) looking at arc AB always stays the same size, no matter where point P sits on the circle. And that size is always exactly half of the central angle (∠AOB). Check it for yourself with the sliders.

The inscribed angle theorem: the inscribed angle on a given arc is always constant, and it equals half the central angle on that same arc. In particular, the inscribed angle on a diameter (semicircle) is always 90° — this is also known as "Thales' theorem."

The angle stays the same no matter where point P sits on the circle because the central angle is always fixed, and the relationship "inscribed angle = half the central angle" holds regardless of where P is. Once arc AB is fixed, the inscribed angle's size is automatically determined too.

Move point P around the circle with the slider and check whether angle ∠APB really does stay the same. Change the size of arc AB, and you'll see the inscribed angle and central angle change together.

Central angle ∠AOB80°
Position of point P220°
Central angle
80°
Inscribed angle
40°