TOPIC 12

CIRCLES AND THEIR

Describe central angle and arcs of a
ELEMENTS
circle
Solve sector of a circle using the
central angles
and length of arcs

Arc Notation and Description

A minor arc is labeled with 2 capital letters which

are the endpoints and measures less than 180.
Major arcs and semicircles are labeled with 3 letters
the endpoints and any ONE point in between.
Semicircle = 180
Major arc is greater than 180

Degree Measures of Arcs

A central angle is formed by the intersection of 2

segments at the center of a circle.
The endpoints of the segment that intersect the edge of
the circle are the endpoints of the intercepted arc.

Arcs can be measured in terms of

degrees.
The degree measure of a minor arc is
the measure of its central angle.

The degree measure of a major arc is

360 minus the degree measure of its
minor arc. (In this case the major arc
ACB would be 360-85 = 275)
The degree measure of a semicircle is
180.

Arc Length
A second way to measure an arc is in terms of its length.

arc Length = the degree Measure of an arc (the circumference of the circle)
360

L = M (2r)
360

Find the length of arc AB if

segment AX = 10 units.
L = 85 (2 10) = 14.83 in.
360

Lets Practice

Degree measure of arc AB = 70

Degree measure of arc CA = 130
Degree measure of arc BC = 160
Degree measure of arc BAC = 200
3.66 units
Length of arc AB =

WHITEBOARDS!!
Determine the length of an arc with the
given central angle measure, mP, in a
circle with radius r. Round to the nearest
hundredth.
4.19
1. m P = 40; r = 6
26.18
2. m P = 75; r = 20
54.45
3. m P = 80; r = 39
138.4
4. m P = 130; r = 61

Segment and Sector of a

Circle

Segment of a circle is a part of a circle, bounded by the arc

ACB and the corresponding chord AB (Fig 42). A length of the
perpendicular CD, drawn from a midpoint of the chord AB until
intersecting with the arc ACB, is called a height of a circle segment.
Sector of a circle is a part of a circle, bounded by the
arc AmB and two radii OA and OB, drawn to the ends of the arc
( Fig.43 ).

Sector of a Circle
The region bounded by 2 radii & their
intercepted arc.

Sector
Also a
sector
Visually, it might remind you of a slice
of pizza or a piece of pie.

Theorem Area of a Sector

arc measure
2
A

r
o
360

Ex: Find the area of the small sector

shown.
arc measure
2
A
r
o
360
o

135o

11
m

135
2
A
11
o
360
135
A
121
360

A 142.55 m

Ex: L & M are 2 pts. on a circle R with

r=50 cm & m LRM=150o. Find the areas
of the sectors formed by LRM.
arc measure
2
AII

r
360o

arc measure
2
AI

r
360o
150
2
AI
50
360

AI 3272.49 cm 2

II
R
L

50
cm
o
150

210
2
AII
50
360
M

AII 4581.49 cm

Ex: Find the area of the shaded region.

Ao A Ashaded region
4c
m

r2
(4)2
16

s2 3
4

4 3
4

4c
m

30o
23

43

3 16 3 3

48 3
4

16 - 123
= 29.5 cm2

12 3