Aimathic
Login | English | Deutsch

Free math worksheets

Build your own math worksheets from 30,000+ problems for grades 3 to 12, from fractions to AP Calculus. Every problem comes with step-by-step solutions.

Arc lengths and areas of sectors

Click problems to add them to your worksheet.

55547410
In a circle with center \(O\), the length of minor arc \(AB\) is equal to the circle's radius \(r\). What is \(m\angle AOB\) in radians? Explain using the definition of radian measure.

Hints

- Compare the intercepted arc length directly with the radius. - What ratio defines the radian measure of a central angle? - What does that ratio become when the two lengths are equal?

Solution

1. Radian measure is the ratio of intercepted arc length to radius: \(\theta=\frac{s}{r}\). 2. Here \(s=r\), so \(\theta=\frac{r}{r}=1\). 3. Therefore, \(\angle AOB\) measures exactly \(1\) radian.

Answer

\(1\) radian
55548710
A sector is one quarter of a circle with radius \(8\,\text{cm}\). Find the area of the sector exactly in terms of \(\pi\).

Hints

- Start with the area of the whole circle. - What fraction of the full circle does the sector occupy? - Keep \(\pi\) in the answer rather than converting to a decimal.

Solution

1. The area of the full circle is \(\pi r^2=\pi(8)^2=64\pi\,\text{cm}^2\). 2. The sector is one quarter of the circle, so its area is \(\frac{1}{4}\cdot64\pi=16\pi\,\text{cm}^2\).

Answer

\(16\pi\,\text{cm}^2\)
51270010
A sector has area \(24.5\,\text{cm}^2\) and radius \(7\,\text{cm}\). Find its arc length \(s\).

Hints

- Identify the given and unknown quantities. - Which formula connects sector area, radius, and arc length? - Rearrange the formula so the arc length is isolated.

Solution

1. Use \(A=\frac{1}{2}sr\). 2. Solve for arc length: \(s=\frac{2A}{r}\). 3. Substitute: \(s=\frac{2\cdot24.5\,\text{cm}^2}{7\,\text{cm}}=7\,\text{cm}\).

Answer

\(7\,\text{cm}\)
51270310
Find the arc length \(s\) for each circle. Round to the nearest hundredth. a) \(r=7.5\,\text{cm}\), \(\theta=48^\circ\) b) \(d=1.20\,\text{m}\), \(\theta=210^\circ\)

Hints

- What fraction of a full circle is represented by each central angle? - Check whether a radius or diameter is given. - Begin with the formula for the full circumference.

Solution

1. Use \(s=\frac{\theta}{360^\circ}\cdot2\pi r\). 2. For a), \(s=\frac{48}{360}\cdot2\pi\cdot7.5\,\text{cm}=2\pi\,\text{cm}\approx6.28\,\text{cm}\). 3. For b), the radius is \(r=\frac{1.20\,\text{m}}{2}=0.60\,\text{m}\). 4. Then \(s=\frac{210}{360}\cdot2\pi\cdot0.60\,\text{m}=0.7\pi\,\text{m}\approx2.20\,\text{m}\).

Answer

a) \(s\approx6.28\,\text{cm}\) b) \(s\approx2.20\,\text{m}\)
51384210
A pizza with diameter \(12\,\text{in.}\) is cut into \(8\) equal slices. How long is the outer arc, or crust, of one slice? Round to the nearest tenth of an inch.

Hints

- First find the circumference of the entire pizza. - What fraction of the full circumference belongs to one of \(8\) equal slices? - You could also find the central angle of one slice.

Solution

1. The pizza's circumference is \(C=\pi(12\,\text{in.})=12\pi\,\text{in.}\). 2. Each of the \(8\) equal slices has one-eighth of the full circumference as its outer arc. 3. The arc length is \(s=\frac{12\pi}{8}\,\text{in.}=1.5\pi\,\text{in.}\approx4.7\,\text{in.}\).

Answer

Approximately \(4.7\,\text{in.}\)
55547510
Convert each angle to the requested unit. a) Convert \(150^\circ\) to radians. Give an exact answer in terms of \(\pi\). b) Convert \(\frac{7\pi}{6}\) radians to degrees.

Hints

- A half-turn is both \(180^\circ\) and \(\pi\) radians. - For each part, choose a conversion factor that cancels the starting unit. - Keep \(\pi\) exact in part a rather than replacing it with a decimal.

Solution

1. To convert degrees to radians, multiply by \(\frac{\pi}{180^\circ}\): \(150^\circ\cdot\frac{\pi}{180^\circ}=\frac{5\pi}{6}\). 2. To convert radians to degrees, multiply by \(\frac{180^\circ}{\pi}\): \(\frac{7\pi}{6}\cdot\frac{180^\circ}{\pi}=210^\circ\).

Answer

a) \(\frac{5\pi}{6}\) radians b) \(210^\circ\)
55547610
A point on the rim of a wheel moves through an arc length of \(18\,\text{cm}\) while the wheel turns. The wheel has radius \(12\,\text{cm}\). Find the angle through which the wheel turns, in radians.

Hints

- Which quantities are given: arc length, radius, or angle? - Recall the direct relationship among \(s\), \(r\), and \(\theta\) when \(\theta\) is measured in radians. - Solve that relationship for the unknown angle before substituting values.

Solution

1. For an angle measured in radians, arc length satisfies \(s=r\theta\). 2. Solve for the angle: \(\theta=\frac{s}{r}=\frac{18}{12}=\frac{3}{2}\). 3. The wheel turns through \(\frac{3}{2}\) radians.

Answer

\(\frac{3}{2}\) radians
51269410
A sector has radius \(r=15\,\text{cm}\) and arc length \(s=12\,\text{cm}\). Find the central angle \(\theta\) exactly and to the nearest hundredth of a degree, and find the area \(A\) of the sector.

Hints

- Which formula relates radius, arc length, and central angle? - Is there a sector-area formula that uses arc length directly? - What fraction of the full circumference is the given arc?

Solution

1. Use the arc-length formula \(s=\frac{\theta}{360^\circ}\cdot 2\pi r\). 2. Solve for the central angle: \(\theta=\frac{s\cdot360^\circ}{2\pi r}=\frac{12\cdot360^\circ}{2\pi\cdot15}=\frac{144^\circ}{\pi}\approx45.84^\circ\). 3. Use \(A=\frac{1}{2}sr\): \(A=\frac{1}{2}\cdot12\,\text{cm}\cdot15\,\text{cm}=90\,\text{cm}^2\).

Answer

\(\theta=\frac{144^\circ}{\pi}\approx45.84^\circ\) and \(A=90\,\text{cm}^2\)
51269510
Consider a sector with radius \(r\), central angle \(\theta\), arc length \(s\), and area \(A\). Assume that any changed angle remains at most \(360^\circ\). a) The central angle is tripled while the radius stays fixed. How do \(s\) and \(A\) change? b) The radius is doubled while the central angle stays fixed. How do \(s\) and \(A\) change? Justify each answer using formulas.

Hints

- Compare how \(\theta\) and \(r\) appear in the two formulas. - Which variable is squared? - What happens to a product when one factor is multiplied by a constant?

Solution

1. The formulas are \(s=\frac{\theta}{360^\circ}\cdot2\pi r\) and \(A=\frac{\theta}{360^\circ}\cdot\pi r^2\). 2. In part a), \(\theta\) is a linear factor in both formulas. Tripling \(\theta\) triples both \(s\) and \(A\). 3. In part b), \(r\) is a linear factor in the arc-length formula, so doubling \(r\) doubles \(s\). 4. Radius is squared in the area formula, so doubling \(r\) multiplies \(A\) by \(2^2=4\).

Answer

a) Both \(s\) and \(A\) are multiplied by \(3\). b) \(s\) is multiplied by \(2\), and \(A\) is multiplied by \(4\).
51269610
A sector has area \(A=62.83\,\text{cm}^2\) and central angle \(\theta=72^\circ\). a) Find the radius \(r\) of the circle. b) Find the perimeter \(P\) of the sector. Remember that the boundary consists of the arc and two radii. Round each answer to the nearest hundredth.

Hints

- Rearrange the sector-area formula to isolate \(r\). - What pieces make up the boundary of a sector? - Keep the radius unrounded until the final perimeter calculation.

Solution

1. From \(A=\frac{\theta}{360^\circ}\pi r^2\), solve for radius: \(r=\sqrt{\frac{A\cdot360^\circ}{\theta\pi}}\). 2. Substitute the given values: \(r=\sqrt{\frac{62.83\cdot360}{72\pi}}\,\text{cm}\approx10.00\,\text{cm}\). 3. Using the unrounded radius, the arc length is \(s=\frac{72}{360}\cdot2\pi r\approx12.57\,\text{cm}\). 4. The sector perimeter is \(P=s+2r\approx32.57\,\text{cm}\).

Answer

a) \(r\approx10.00\,\text{cm}\) b) \(P\approx32.57\,\text{cm}\)
51270110
A rotating sprinkler has a reach of \(12\,\text{ft}\). It waters a sector whose curved outer edge has length \(15\,\text{ft}\). Find the area of the watered region. Then explain how the area would change if the sprinkler's reach doubled to \(24\,\text{ft}\) while the arc length remained \(15\,\text{ft}\).

Hints

- First use the given radius and arc length to find the current area. - In \(A=\frac{1}{2}sr\), what happens when \(r\) doubles and \(s\) stays fixed? - Check the relationship by calculating the new area.

Solution

1. Use \(A=\frac{1}{2}sr\). 2. The current area is \(A=\frac{1}{2}\cdot15\,\text{ft}\cdot12\,\text{ft}=90\,\text{ft}^2\). 3. With the arc length fixed, area is proportional to radius in this formula. Doubling the radius doubles the area. 4. The new area is \(A=\frac{1}{2}\cdot15\,\text{ft}\cdot24\,\text{ft}=180\,\text{ft}^2\).

Answer

The original area is \(90\,\text{ft}^2\). With a \(24\,\text{ft}\) reach and the same arc length, the area doubles to \(180\,\text{ft}^2\).
51270210
A sector is highlighted in a circular logo. The circle has radius \(10\,\text{cm}\), and the sector's arc length equals the radius. Find the area of the sector. Then state its central angle \(\theta\) exactly in radians and round the same angle to the nearest tenth of a degree.

Hints

- Compare the arc length directly with the radius before using a degree formula. - What does the ratio \(\frac{s}{r}\) represent when an angle is measured in radians? - After finding the exact radian measure, convert that same angle to degrees.

Solution

1. The radius and arc length are both \(10\,\text{cm}\). 2. The sector area is \(A=\frac{1}{2}sr=\frac{1}{2}\cdot10\,\text{cm}\cdot10\,\text{cm}=50\,\text{cm}^2\). 3. In radians, \(\theta=\frac{s}{r}=\frac{10}{10}=1\). An angle that intercepts an arc equal in length to the radius is exactly \(1\) radian. 4. Convert to degrees: \(1\,\text{radian}=\frac{180^\circ}{\pi}\approx57.3^\circ\).

Answer

\(A=50\,\text{cm}^2\) and \(\theta=1\) radian \(\approx57.3^\circ\).
51270410
An arc has length \(s=15.7\,\text{cm}\) and central angle \(\theta=90^\circ\). a) Find the radius of the circle. Round to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. b) If the central angle is doubled to \(180^\circ\) while the arc length stays the same, how must the radius change? Explain, and give the new radius to the nearest tenth of a centimeter.

Hints

- Rearrange the arc-length formula to isolate radius. - At a fixed radius, what happens to arc length when the angle increases? - How must two factors change inversely to keep their product constant?

Solution

1. From \(s=\frac{\theta}{360^\circ}\cdot2\pi r\), solve for radius: \(r=\frac{s\cdot360^\circ}{2\pi\theta}\). 2. For part a, \(r=\frac{15.7\cdot360}{2\pi\cdot90}\,\text{cm}=\frac{31.4}{\pi}\,\text{cm}\approx10.0\,\text{cm}\). 3. Arc length is proportional to the product \(r\theta\). To keep that product constant when \(\theta\) doubles, \(r\) must be divided by \(2\). 4. The new radius is approximately \(5.0\,\text{cm}\).

Answer

a) \(r\approx10.0\,\text{cm}\) b) The radius must be halved to approximately \(5.0\,\text{cm}\).
51270510
A sector has area \(A=25\,\text{cm}^2\) and radius \(r=5\,\text{cm}\). a) Find the central angle \(\theta\) exactly in radians, then convert it to degrees to the nearest tenth. b) Find the arc length \(s\). c) Verify the relationship \(A=\frac{1}{2}sr\).

Hints

- Which sector-area formula uses a central angle measured in radians directly? - Once the angle is in radians, how are radius, angle, and arc length related? - Use the area, arc length, and radius in the direct relationship to check your result.

Solution

1. For a radian angle, use \(A=\frac{1}{2}r^2\theta\): \(25=\frac{1}{2}(5)^2\theta\). 2. Solving gives \(\theta=2\) radians. Converting to degrees gives \(2\cdot\frac{180^\circ}{\pi}=\frac{360^\circ}{\pi}\approx114.6^\circ\). 3. Use \(s=r\theta\): \(s=5\,\text{cm}\cdot2=10\,\text{cm}\). 4. Check: \(\frac{1}{2}sr=\frac{1}{2}\cdot10\,\text{cm}\cdot5\,\text{cm}=25\,\text{cm}^2\), matching the given area.

Answer

a) \(\theta=2\) radians \(=\frac{360^\circ}{\pi}\approx114.6^\circ\) b) \(s=10\,\text{cm}\) c) \(\frac{1}{2}\cdot10\,\text{cm}\cdot5\,\text{cm}=25\,\text{cm}^2\), so the relationship is verified.
51270610
Two pizza slices are sectors. Slice A has radius \(6\,\text{in.}\) and central angle \(45^\circ\). Slice B has radius \(7\,\text{in.}\) and central angle \(30^\circ\). a) Which slice has the greater area? b) Which slice has the longer outer arc, or crust? Support each answer with calculations.

Hints

- Use the central angle to determine each sector's fraction of a full circle. - Calculate area and arc length separately. - Compare the two results for each measurement.

Solution

1. Slice A has area \(A_A=\frac{45}{360}\pi(6\,\text{in.})^2=4.5\pi\,\text{in.}^2\approx14.14\,\text{in.}^2\). 2. Slice B has area \(A_B=\frac{30}{360}\pi(7\,\text{in.})^2=\frac{49\pi}{12}\,\text{in.}^2\approx12.83\,\text{in.}^2\). Therefore, Slice A has the greater area. 3. Slice A's arc length is \(s_A=\frac{45}{360}\cdot2\pi(6\,\text{in.})=1.5\pi\,\text{in.}\approx4.71\,\text{in.}\). 4. Slice B's arc length is \(s_B=\frac{30}{360}\cdot2\pi(7\,\text{in.})=\frac{7\pi}{6}\,\text{in.}\approx3.67\,\text{in.}\). Therefore, Slice A also has the longer crust.

Answer

a) Slice A, with approximately \(14.14\,\text{in.}^2\), has the greater area. b) Slice A, with an arc length of approximately \(4.71\,\text{in.}\), has the longer crust.
51270710
A flower bed is shaped like a sector. Its area is exactly \(40\,\text{ft}^2\), and the curved fence along its outer edge has length \(8\,\text{ft}\). Find the sector's radius \(r\) and central angle \(\theta\). Give the angle exactly and to the nearest hundredth of a degree.

Hints

- Which formula relates sector area directly to arc length and radius? - After finding the radius, use the arc-length relationship to connect the arc to the central angle. - Keep the angle in exact form before finding its decimal approximation.

Solution

1. Use \(A=\frac{1}{2}sr\) and solve for radius: \(r=\frac{2A}{s}\). 2. Then \(r=\frac{2\cdot40\,\text{ft}^2}{8\,\text{ft}}=10\,\text{ft}\). 3. Use \(s=\frac{\theta}{360^\circ}\cdot2\pi r\) and solve for \(\theta\). 4. Thus \(\theta=\frac{8\cdot360^\circ}{2\pi\cdot10}=\frac{144^\circ}{\pi}\approx45.84^\circ\).

Answer

\(r=10\,\text{ft}\) and \(\theta=\frac{144^\circ}{\pi}\approx45.84^\circ\)
51385910
A car's rear-window wiper has a \(16\,\text{in.}\) blade. The end of the blade nearest the pivot is \(6\,\text{in.}\) from the pivot, and the wiper sweeps through an angle of \(155^\circ\). a) Find the area of glass cleaned by the blade. Round to the nearest hundredth of a square inch. b) Find the arc length traveled by the blade's outer end during one sweep. Round to the nearest hundredth of an inch. c) By what percent would the cleaned area increase if the sweep angle were \(180^\circ\)? Round to the nearest tenth of a percent.

Hints

- Think of the swept region as starting away from the pivot. - Model the cleaned area as the difference of two sectors. - For part c, how is sector area related to the angle when the radii stay fixed?

Solution

1. The inner radius is \(6\,\text{in.}\), and the outer radius is \(6\,\text{in.}+16\,\text{in.}=22\,\text{in.}\). 2. The cleaned region is an annular sector: \(A=\frac{155}{360}\pi(22^2-6^2)\,\text{in.}^2\approx605.98\,\text{in.}^2\). 3. The outer arc length is \(s=\frac{155}{360}\cdot2\pi(22\,\text{in.})\approx59.52\,\text{in.}\). 4. With the radii fixed, sector area is proportional to the central angle. The percent increase is \(\frac{180-155}{155}\cdot100\%\approx16.1\%\).

Answer

a) \(A\approx605.98\,\text{in.}^2\) b) \(s\approx59.52\,\text{in.}\) c) Approximately \(16.1\%\)
53657210
Use the diagram. Find the radius \(r\) of the circle and the length \(s\) of the corresponding minor arc. Round each answer to the nearest hundredth.
Figure for problem 536572

Hints

- Connect the chord’s endpoints to the center to form an isosceles triangle. - Bisect the triangle and use right-triangle trigonometry to find the radius. - Then use the central angle as a fraction of \(360^\circ\) to find the arc length. - Use the unrounded radius in the arc-length calculation.

Solution

1. The two radii and the chord form an isosceles triangle. Bisecting it gives \(\sin(25^\circ)=\frac{3}{r}\), so \(r=\frac{3}{\sin(25^\circ)}\approx7.10\,\text{cm}\). 2. Use the unrounded radius in the arc-length formula: \(s=\frac{50}{360}\cdot2\pi r\approx\frac{50}{360}\cdot2\pi\cdot7.0986\approx6.19\,\text{cm}\).

Answer

Radius: \(r\approx7.10\,\text{cm}\) Minor arc length: \(s\approx6.19\,\text{cm}\)
55093810
The diagram shows two concentric circles cut by the same central angle. The inner intercepted arc has length \(\frac{5\pi}{3}\,\text{cm}\). a) Use similarity, rather than recomputing from the circumference formula, to find the length of the corresponding outer arc. b) Compute \(\frac{s}{r}\) for each arc and explain what you notice. c) State the marked central angle in radians.
Figure for problem 550938

Hints

- What is the dilation scale factor from the inner circle to the outer circle? - Under a dilation, how do lengths such as radii and arc lengths change? - Compare each arc length with its own radius before interpreting the common ratio.

Solution

1. The two sectors are related by a dilation centered at \(O\) with scale factor \(\frac{10}{4}=\frac{5}{2}\). 2. Arc length scales by the same factor, so the outer arc length is \(\frac{5}{2}\cdot\frac{5\pi}{3}=\frac{25\pi}{6}\,\text{cm}\). 3. For the inner arc, \(\frac{s}{r}=\frac{5\pi/3}{4}=\frac{5\pi}{12}\). For the outer arc, \(\frac{s}{r}=\frac{25\pi/6}{10}=\frac{5\pi}{12}\). 4. The ratio \(\frac{s}{r}\) is unchanged by the dilation. By definition, that common ratio is the angle measure in radians, so the marked angle is \(\frac{5\pi}{12}\) radians.

Answer

a) \(\frac{25\pi}{6}\,\text{cm}\) b) Both ratios equal \(\frac{5\pi}{12}\). c) \(\frac{5\pi}{12}\) radians
55547710
Jordan is finding the area of a sector with radius \(6\,\text{cm}\) and central angle \(120^\circ\). Jordan writes \(A=\frac{1}{2}(6)^2(120)\). Explain the error. Then compute the sector area correctly using a radian-based formula.

Hints

- Check what unit the angle must have in the formula \(A=\frac{1}{2}r^2\theta\). - Convert the given angle before substituting it. - Keep the converted angle exact so the final area can be written exactly in terms of \(\pi\).

Solution

1. The formula \(A=\frac{1}{2}r^2\theta\) requires \(\theta\) to be measured in radians, but Jordan substituted \(120\) as though the degree measure were a radian measure. 2. Convert the angle: \(120^\circ\cdot\frac{\pi}{180^\circ}=\frac{2\pi}{3}\) radians. 3. Substitute the radian measure: \(A=\frac{1}{2}(6)^2\left(\frac{2\pi}{3}\right)=12\pi\,\text{cm}^2\).

Answer

Jordan used a degree measure in a formula that requires radians. Since \(120^\circ=\frac{2\pi}{3}\) radians, the correct area is \(12\pi\,\text{cm}^2\).
55093910
A sector has radius \(r\), arc length \(s\), and area \(A\). a) Starting with the circumference \(2\pi r\) and circle area \(\pi r^2\), derive the formula \(A=\frac{1}{2}rs\). b) A sector has perimeter \(26\,\text{cm}\) and area \(40\,\text{cm}^2\). Find all possible pairs \((r,s)\).

Hints

- What fraction of the full circumference is represented by an arc of length \(s\)? - The sector occupies that same fraction of the circle's area. - After deriving the area formula, use the sector's two radii and arc to express its perimeter. - Check every algebraic solution against the geometric conditions for a sector.

Solution

1. The arc is the fraction \(\frac{s}{2\pi r}\) of the full circumference, so the sector is the same fraction of the circle's area. 2. Therefore, \(A=\frac{s}{2\pi r}\cdot\pi r^2=\frac{1}{2}rs\). 3. The sector perimeter is \(2r+s=26\), so \(s=26-2r\). 4. Use the area condition: \(\frac{1}{2}r(26-2r)=40\). This simplifies to \(r^2-13r+40=0\). 5. Factor: \((r-5)(r-8)=0\), so \(r=5\) or \(r=8\). 6. If \(r=5\), then \(s=16\). If \(r=8\), then \(s=10\). Both arc lengths are positive and less than the corresponding full circumferences, so both sectors are possible.

Answer

a) \(A=\frac{1}{2}rs\) b) \((r,s)=(5\,\text{cm},16\,\text{cm})\) or \((8\,\text{cm},10\,\text{cm})\)

All problems may be used, copied and printed free of charge for school and tutoring, including paid tutoring. Commercial adaptations as well as publication or redistribution on the internet are not permitted.