Measuring Angles in Radians

“A radian is the angle subtended at the centre of a circle by an arc length whose length is equal to
that of the radius of the circle”. This means a radian is the angle formed when the arc length and
the radius are the same.

The number of radians in a circle = length of circumference

Length of radius
2πr
=
r
= 2π

∴ 360° = 2π rads
180° = π rads
180
1 rad = ≈ 57·3°
π

Changing Degrees to Radians

Rule:- Multiply by π
180°

Example 1. Convert 45° to radians

π 45π Leave your answer in
45 × =
180 180 terms of π unless asked
for more accuracy
π
=
4

Example 2. Convert 75° to radians, give your answer to 2sf.

π 75π
75 × =
180 180
= 1·308996
= 1·3 (2sf)

Changing Radians to Degrees

Rule: Multiply by 180°

π
2π
Example 1. Convert rads to degress
3
2π 180
× = 120°
3 π

c
Example 2. Convert 20·1 to degrees
180
2·1 × = 120·3°
π
 Finding Arc Lengths
The length of an arc is always proportional to the angle at the centre of the arc and the radius of the
arc. So, if 2 arcs have the same radius but one has an angle twice the size of the other, it means one
arc length will be twice the size of the other.

Formula for finding an arc length: – l = rθ where l = arc length,

r = radius
θ = angle at the centre

Why?
l θ Length of arc = angle at the centre
=
2πr 2π Circumference total angle at centre

2θπr
( × 2πr) l=
2π
Ratio of sides = Ratio of angles
l = rθ

Example 1. Find the length of the arc ABC.

2π
l = rθ r = 5cm θ =
3
2π
l=5×
3
10π
l= or 10·47cm
3
Example 2. Find the radius of the sector ABC

5π
l = rθ r = 16cm θ =
4
5π
16 = r ×
4
4
16 × =r
5π
64π
= r or r = 4·07cm
5π

Example 3. An arc AB or a circle, with centre o and radius r cm, subtends an angle of θ
radians at O. The perimeter of the sector AOB is P cm.
Express r in terms of θ.

p = (2 × radius) + arc length

p = 2r + rθ
p
+θ=r
2
 Finding the Area of a Sector

Formula for area of a sector is A = 1 r2θ where r = radius , θ = angle at centre

2
Why?

A θ
2
= Area of Sector = angle at the centre
πr 2π Area of circle total angle at centre
2 θ 2
( × πr ) A= × πr
2π
2 Ratio of areas = Ratio of angles
rθ 1 2
A= or A = rθ
2 2

NB. If the question gives the angle at the centre in degrees it must be changed to radians

π
Example 1. Find the area of the sector ABC, where ∠ABC = and r = 2cm,
3
give your answer in terms of π

1 2 π
A= r θ where r = 2cm, θ =
2 3
1 π
A= ×2×2×
2 3

2π 2
A= cm
3
Example 2. Find the area of the sector ABC, where ∠ABC = 60° and r = 8cm, give your answe

π
60° = 60 ×
180
π
=
3

1 2 π
A= r θ where θ = , r = 8cm
2 3
.
1 π
A= ×8×8×
2 3
32π
A=
3
2
A = 33·5 cm (2sf)
 Finding the Area of a Segment

Formula for the area of a segment:-

1 2 1 2
A= r θ– r Sin θ
2 2

1 2
or A = r (θ – sin θ) where r = radius, θ = angle at centre
2

Why?

Area of segment = Area of sector – area of a triangle

1 2 1 2
A = r θ – r sin θ
2 2
2
as a and b = r ∴ ab = r

1 2 1 2
A = rθ– r sin θ
2 2

Example 1. Find the area of the shaded segment.

1 2 π
A= r (θ – sinθ) where r = 9cm and θ =
2 6

1 2× π π 
A= ×9  – sin 
2  6 6 

A = 40·5 × (0·023598775)
A = 0·95575 (5sf)