Question

Prove that any three points on a circle cannot be collinear.

Answer 1

Let A, B and C be any three points on a circle. Suppose these three points A, B and C on the circle are collinear.

Therefore, the perpendicular bisectors of the chords AB and BC must be parallel because two or more lines which are perpendicular to a given line are parallel to each other.

Now, AB and BC are the chords of the circle. We know that the perpendicular bisector of the chord of a circle passing through its centre.

So, the perpendicular bisectors of the chords AB and BC must intersect at the centre of the circle.

This is a contradiction to our statement that the perpendicular bisectors of AB and BC must be parallel, as parallel lines do not intersect at a point.

Hence, our assumption that three points A, B and C on the circle are collinear is not correct.

Thus, any three points on a circle cannot be collinear.