How do you solve a circle from an obtuse inscribed angle? I'm working on plotting the circle described by triangle ABC. The theory is that any inscribed angle A is exactly half the central angle of chord BC. This allows me, knowing angle A and side BC, to solve the radius and circle by bisecting chord BC and solving the right triangle between B, the midpoint of the chord, and the origin of the circle where an angle equal to A is supposed to be half the central angle. I can more or less visualize this, but what happens if angle A is obtuse? In my case, I have a 100-degree angle at A. When I try to visualize the right triangle based on a central angle (200 degrees) that is twice angle A (100 degrees), the first two angles alone (angle A plus the right angle) total an implausible 190-degrees. Obviously I can't subtract that from 180 to learn the chord angle at B. How am I supposed to handle this case?

Trigonometry (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN:9780134217437
Author:Margaret L. Lial, John Hornsby, David I. Schneider, Callie Daniels
Publisher:Margaret L. Lial, John Hornsby, David I. Schneider, Callie Daniels
Chapter1: Trigonometric Functions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RE: 1. Give the measures of the complement and the supplement of an angle measuring 35°.
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How do you solve a circle from an obtuse inscribed angle?

I'm working on plotting the circle described by triangle ABC. The theory is that any inscribed angle A is exactly half the central angle of chord BC. This allows me, knowing angle A and side BC, to solve the radius and circle by bisecting chord BC and solving the right triangle between B, the midpoint of the chord, and the origin of the circle where an angle equal to A is supposed to be half the central angle. I can more or less visualize this, but what happens if angle A is obtuse? In my case, I have a 100-degree angle at A. When I try to visualize the right triangle based on a central angle (200 degrees) that is twice angle A (100 degrees), the first two angles alone (angle A plus the right angle) total an implausible 190-degrees. Obviously I can't subtract that from 180 to learn the chord angle at B.

How am I supposed to handle this case?

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