It's important to know the differences between an inscribed angle and a circumscribed angle because some theorems apply to only inscribed angles. Let's view some inscribed angles and circumscribed angles side by side and answer some review questions.

Use the slide show below to test your understanding of the differences between inscribed and circumscribed angles.

Here we have a circumscribed angle and an inscribed angle. Where is the circumscribed angle located in relation to its circle? The circumscribed angle is located outside the circle. Where is the inscribed angle located in relation to its circle? The inscribed angle is located on the inside the circle. Here we have another pair of angles. Where is the vertex of the circumscribed angle? The circumscribed angle's vertex is located outside the circle. Where is the vertex of the inscribed angle? The inscribed angle's vertex is located on the circle. Here is another side-by-side view. What special segments form the circumscribed angle? The circumscribed angle is formed by two tangents. What special segments form the inscribed angle? The inscribed angle is formed by two chords.