Using Radians for

Arcs & Sectors

Jamie Frost
www.drfrost.org
@DrFrostMaths

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Last modified:10th July 2024 charity in England and Wales (no
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Teacher Notes
Prerequisite
Knowledge
• Arc length and sector area (using
degrees)
• Determining lengths and angles
using trigonometry in non-right-
angled triangles.

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Skills in this Lesson
584 Using radians for arc lengths and areas of sectors, and lengths,
angles and areas of triangles
584a Understand the definition of radians and convert between degrees and
radians.
584b Determine the length of an arc of a sector where the angle is in radians.
584c Determine the radius or angle subtended by the arc given the arc length or
perimeter.
584d Determine the perimeter of a sector removed from a sector.
584e Determine the area of a sector where the angle is in radians.
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Clicking this box takes you to a single question practice for a
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Skills in this Lesson
584 Using radians for arc lengths and areas of sectors, and lengths, angles and
areas of triangles
584f Use basic trigonometry and sine/cosine rules (Laws of Sines/Cosines) when the
angles are in radians.
584g Use the area of a triangle formula where the angle is in radians.
584h Determine the perimeter of a segment where the angle is in radians.
584i Determine the area of a segment where the angle is in radians.
584j Determine the area of a composite shape involving a sector.
584k Determine the perimeter of a region obtained by removing a triangle from a sector.
584l Determine the area of a region obtained by removing a triangle from a sector.
584m Determine the area of a sector where the angle is obtained using trigonometry.
584n Determine the perimeter of a composite shape involving a sector.
584o Determine the area of a shape involving subtraction of a sector.
584p Determine the angle or radius of a sector given an area involving subtraction of the
sector.
584q Determine the area or perimeter of a composite shape involving a Learning
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is a registered
some of the lengths are algebraic. charity in England and Wales (no
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Different Angles For Units

Up to now, you’ve likely only encountered degrees as a unit for

angles.
But there are in fact units for angles: degrees, radians and gradians.
𝑟

° 𝑟
rad

A degree is a 360th of a
rotation around a full
circle. was chosen for
a full rotation because One radian is the
has lots of factors and movement of one
therefore nicely divides radius’ worth around
into , etc. the circumference of
the circle.

Click to Animate  Click to Animate 

Comparing Units for Angles

Unit Definition Notatio Full

n Rotation The
circumference
Degrees degree = of a circle is .
th of a full rotation Therefore if
Radians radian = radian is
angle subtended at radius of a
the centre of a circle ? ? spin, then
by an arc that is equal radians would
in length to the radius. be radii.
Gradians gradian = grad
? of a
one-hundredth ? ?
right-angle.

Because radians is the SI unit

for angles (i.e. the
Gradians are used in surveying international standard!),
(mostly in Europe) and typically no unit is written,
sometimes in mining/geology and any angle written without
but are not used in a unit is assumed to be
mathematics. radians.
They have been included here just for
completion’s sake and given their inclusion
on many calculators.
Why Radians?

Radians are the default unit for angles in

mathematics.
So why are they so important?
cm
Arc length
1.3 cm
As

1 2
We will see shortly that …which leads to small angle
it greatly simplifies approximations (see 586),
the formulae for arc allowing us to approximate for
length and sector small values of .
area.
𝑑
( sin 𝑥 ) = cos 𝑥 𝑒
𝑖𝜋
+1= 0
𝑑𝑥
3 4
…which in turn are used to …and such derivatives underpin
differentiate trigonometric huge swathes of mathematics,
expressions (see 596) including complex numbers,
differential equations, engineering
and science.
Converting Between Degrees & Radians
drfrost.org/ 584a
s/

Degrees Radians

? Since radians, any

fraction/multiple of will be
? a fraction/multiple of

?
Arc Length
𝑙

𝑟
𝜃

(Recap
)In degrees:
In
radians:
𝜃
𝑙= ? ×2 𝜋 𝑟
360 °
𝑙=𝑟 𝜃 ?

We have th of a full circle, so From before, we know that radian is

take this fraction of the full subtended by an arc of radius () in
circumference. length, so radians must give a length
of…
Example Test Your
Understanding
An arc of a circle of radius cm 1 An arc of a circle of radius
subtends an angle of radians at units subtends an angle of
the centre of the circle. radians at the centre of the
Determine the length of the arc. circle.
Determine the perimeter of
the arc, in terms of .
cm
1.2
2
𝜋
3

6
𝑙 =𝑟 𝜃
¿ 6.3 × 1.2
cm
Perimeter:
?
Note: We will later see how to switch
our calculators to ‘radians mode’. This
only affects the input of trigonometric
functions and not simple arithmetic like
the above. drfrost.org/ 584b
s/
Example Test Your
Understanding
An arc of a circle, of length cm, 2 An arc of a circle has radius
subtends an angle of radians at units and perimeter units.
the centre of the circle. Determine the angle at the
Determine the radius of the arc. centre of the circle subtended
by the arc.

cm 0.3 4
𝜃

𝑙 =𝑟 𝜃
6=𝑟 × 0.3 Arc length:
6
𝑟= ?
0.3
cm

drfrost.org/ 584c
s/
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 584d
s/

3 𝐴
cm
𝐷 The diagram shows two sectors and .
The length of is cm and the length of
cm is cm.
1.2 Determine the perimeter of .
𝑂 cm 𝐶 𝐵

Arc length
cm ?
Arc length
cm ?
Total perimeter
cm ?
Challenge Question

𝑟 The perimeter of the pictured sector

is . The radius is and the angle
𝜃 subtended by the arc is .
Determine in terms of and .

𝑃=2𝑟+𝜃𝑟 ?
Trigonometry using Radians

When using trigonometric functions, all formulae remain

the same, except the angle unit must be set to radians
on your calculator*.

* What specifically
does ‘radians mode’

On a Casio fx- On a Casio 991CW, if mean?

It simply means that the
CG50, press SETUP there is not a ‘R’ at default unit of angles

(shift MENU) then the top of your input into

trigonometric
scroll to Angle. screen, press functions will be

Press F2 to change Settings, choose radians. On a fx-CG50,

you can explicitly
to Radians. Angle Unit, and specify the angle unit
then Radians. which will override the
default specified by the
angle mode.
𝑐
Cosine Rule: 𝐵
Sine Rule: 𝐴𝐶 𝑎
𝑏
Using the Cosine/Sine Rule in Radians
3b 𝑄
In the following diagram, radians.
Determine the length of . 𝑃 1.1 A a
Start by
𝑄 4c labelling angle .
3 𝑅
𝑃 1.1 2 2 2
𝑎 = 𝑏 +𝑐 − 2𝑏𝑐 cos 𝐴
4 2 2 2
𝑎 =3 + 4 −2 ( 3 )( 4 ) cos 1.1
𝑅 ¿ 14.113 …
sf

In the following diagram, B

𝑄
radians. Determine, in
sin 𝐴 sin 𝐵 𝑃 0.8 A a
radians, . = 6
𝑄sin 0.8 sin 𝐵 4 b 𝑅
𝑎 𝑏

𝑃 0.8 =
6 4
4 6 sin 𝐵 =
4 sin 0.8
= 0.478 …
𝑅 6
−1
𝐵 =sin ( 0.478 … )=𝟎 . 𝟒𝟗𝟗
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 584f
s/

5 In the following diagram, radians

and . Determine the length of . Hint 1: To use the
cosine rule to find the

5 𝑌 length of , we would
need the angle opposite
it .
𝑋 0.7 4 Hint 2: Angles in a
triangle sum to . What
is that in radians?
𝑍

Use the sine rule to

determine , so that we
can subsequently
determine

? Angles in a triangle sum to

.
Then use the cosine
rule to determine
the length of
Triangles Added to Sectors

The diagram shows a

sector with centre , and a Length of arc
triangle . The radius of the cm
sector is cm and the
angle subtended by the arc Non-reflex
is . .
Determine the perimeter of
the entire shape.
cm

Length of :

4.1 cm
𝑂
3 cm Perimeter
cm
𝐵
2 cm 𝐶
𝐴
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 584n
s/

6 [Edexcel IAL C12 Jan 2019 Q10d ∠ 𝐴𝐷𝑂=𝜋 − 0.84 −0.351

Edited]1 shows the design for a shop
Figure ¿ 1.95
sign . The sign consists of a triangle 𝐴𝑂 3.9
= & ?
joined to a sector of a circle with radius sin(1.95) sin (0.84)

points 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝑂 lie on a straight line.

m and centre . The
m

It is given that m and angle is ∴ 𝐴𝐵=4.9− 1.8

radians, and it can be shown that angle ¿ 3.1
radians.
Find, in m, the perimeter of the shop sign, 𝐵 𝐷𝐶=𝑟 𝜃
giving your answer to one decimal place. ¿ 1.8 ?×(2 𝜋 − 0.84)
¿ 9.8
Perimeter
m

Mark Scheme ?

(6
marks)
Triangles Removed from Sectors

The diagram shows a Arc length

sector with centre , and a
triangle .
𝐴𝐵=𝑟 𝜃
cm and cm. ¿ 4 × 0.8
Determine the perimeter cm
of the shaded region .
𝐴 Length of
𝐵𝐶=4 − 3
cm
cm
Length of
0.8 𝐴𝐶=√ 42 +3 2 − 2 ( 4 )( 3 ) cos 0.8
𝑂 cm 𝐶 𝐵
cm

Total perimeter
¿ 3.2+1+ 2.88
cm
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 584k
s/

7 [Edexcel C2 Jan 2012 Q7d Edited] 𝐵𝐶=𝑟 𝜃

Figure 2 shows , a sector of a circle of
radius cm with centre .
¿ 6 × 0.95
cm
The point lies on the line and is such
that . The region , shown shaded in
Figure 2, is bounded by the lines , and
∠ 𝐴𝐵𝐷=0.95
and ?
the arc . ∠ 𝐴𝐷𝐵=𝜋 − 2(0.95)
Given that the ¿ 1.24
length of the arc is 𝐵𝐷 6
cm and that the =
sin(0.95) sin(1.24)
length of is cm, cm
find the perimeter
of .
(6
𝐷𝐶=6 −5.16
marks) cm
?
Perimeter
cm
Mark Scheme ?
Area of a Sector
Proof:
If the angle is in
radians, the fraction of
𝑟 a full circle is (as )
𝜃 Therefore:

(Recap
)In degrees:
In
radians:
𝜃 2 1 2
𝐴= ? × 𝜋 𝑟 𝐴= ? 𝑟 𝜃
360 ° 2
We have th of a full circle, so
take this fraction of the area
of a full circle.
Example Test Your
Understanding
An arc of a circle of radius cm 8 An arc of a circle of radius
subtends an angle of radians at units subtends an angle of
the centre of the circle. radians at the centre of the
Determine the area of the circle.
sector. Determine the area of the
cm sector, in terms of .

1.2
2
𝜋
3

1 2 6
𝐴= 𝑟 𝜃
2
1 2
¿ × 6.3 × 1.2
2
units2
cm 2
?
Note: As before, the above
calculation is unaffected by whether
your calculator is in degrees of
radians mode, as there are no drfrost.org/ 584e
s/
trigonometric functions used.
Area of a Triangle Formula drfrost.org/ 584g
s/

As stated earlier, trigonometric formulae, e.g. that for the area of a

triangle, are unchanged. We just need to be explicit about the unit of
the angle input into any trigonometric functions.
Note that the
angle is the
𝑎 1 included angle
𝐶 Area= 𝑎𝑏 sin 𝐶 between the two
2 sides.
𝑏

In the following diagram, radians.

Determine the area of .

3 𝑄 1
Area= × 3× 4 ×sin 1.1
2
𝑃 1.1 units2
4
𝑅
Segment Perimeter and Area

The shaded region is a segment a Length of chord

enclosed between an arc of radius
cm and the chord of the sector.
cm
Determine
Arc length
a the perimeter of the shaded
segment.
b
the area of the 𝐴
shaded segment.
¿ 5 × 0.9
cm Recall that a cm
segment is the
region between Total perimeter
𝑂 0.9
1.2 a chord of a
¿ 4.5+ 4.35
circle and the
𝐵 circumference.

b Area of sector Area of triangle Area of

¿ 11.25 − 9.79
segment
cm2
cm2
cm2 The general area of a segment
is:
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 584i
s/

9 [OCR C2 June 2014 Q3ii]

Segment Area
The diagram shows a sector of a
1 2
angle is 𝜋 radians.
circle, centre and radius cm. The ¿ 𝑟 ( 𝜃− sin 𝜃 )
2
Find the exact area of the shaded
segment enclosed by the arc and
the chord .
1
¿ ×12
2
2 2𝜋

? 3 (−sin
2𝜋
3 ( ))
¿ 72 ( 2𝜋
3
−√
2
3
)
cm2

(5 marks)

Mark Scheme ?
Area of a Compound Shape Involving a
Sector
The diagram shows a Area of
sector with centre , and a sector
1 2
triangle . The radius of the ¿ 𝑟 𝜃
2
sector is cm and the
1 2
angle subtended by the arc ¿ × 3 × 4.1
is . . 2
Determine the area of the cm2
entire shape.

Area of
4.1 1
¿ ×5 × 3 ×sin 2.183 …
𝑂 2
3 cm cm2
𝐵
2 cm 𝐶 Total area
¿ 18.45+ 6.138
𝐴 cm2
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 584j
s/

10 [Edexcel A2 SAM P1 Q2b Edited]

Length of
consists of a sector 𝐶𝑂𝐷 of a
The shape , as shown in Figure 1,
𝑙=𝑟 𝜃
circle centre joined to a sector of 3=𝑂𝐷 × 0.4
Given that arc length 𝐶𝐷cm,
a different circle, also centre .
cm
∠𝐶𝑂𝐷 radians and 𝐴𝑂𝐷 is a
𝐴𝑂 =12 − 7.5
area of the shaded sector 𝐴𝑂𝐵.
straight line of length cm, find the
cm?

Area of
1 2
¿ × 4.5 × ( 𝜋 − 0.4)
2
(3 cm2
marks)

Mark Scheme ?
Area of a Sector with a Triangle Removed

The diagram shows a sector Area of sector

with centre , and a triangle .
1 2
cm and cm. 𝐴𝐵= 𝑟 𝜃
2
Determine the area of the
1
shaded region . ¿ × 4 2 × 0.8
𝐴 2
cm2

cm
Area of triangle
0.8 1
𝑂 cm 𝐶 𝐵 ¿ 𝑎𝑏 sin 𝐶
2
1
¿ × 4 × 3 × sin 0.8
2
¿ 4.304 cm 2
Area of
¿ 6.4 − 4.30 4
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 584l
s/

11 [Edexcel C2 Jan 2012 Q7e Edited] Area of sector

Figure 2 shows , a sector of a circle of 1 2
radius cm with centre . ¿ × 6 × 0.95
2
The point lies on the line and is such
that . The region , shown shaded in cm2
Figure 2, is bounded by the lines , and ∠ 𝐴𝐵𝐷=0.95
the arc .
Given that Area of
1 ?
of 𝑅, giving your
cm, find the area ¿ × 6 ×5.16 sin (0.95)
2
answer to cm2
significant figures.
Area of
(4 ¿ 17.1 − 12.6
marks) cm2

Mark Scheme ?
Composite Shape with Unknown Angle

The diagram shows a sector and a

triangle where cm, cm and cm. Let
2 2 2
7 =3 + 5 − 2 ( 3 ) ( 5 ) cos 𝜃
Determine the area of the major
32 +5 2 − 7 2
sector , giving your answer in terms cos 𝜃 =
of . 2 ( 3) ( 5)
2
𝜃= 𝜋
3

Then reflex :
𝑂
cm cm
𝐶 ¿
4
𝜋
𝐵 3
𝐴 cm
Area of sector
1 2 4
To use for the sector, we
¿ ×3 × 𝜋
2 3
need to determine first.
cm2
 Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 584m
s/

12 [Edexcel C2 Jan 2013 Q7a,b]

cm, cm, cm and angle . The point 𝑊 lies

The triangle in Figure 1 has

on the line 𝑋𝑌. The circular arc 𝑍𝑊, in

centre 𝑋 and radius cm.

Figure 1 is a major arc of the circle with

sector 𝑋𝑍𝑊𝑋.
Find the area, in cm2, of the major
(5
marks)
Determining :
4 2+ 62 − 9 2
cos 𝛼=
2 ( 4 ) ( 6)
𝛼 =2.22
Reflex : Mark Scheme?
?
¿ 4.06
Area of sector:

cm2
Angle and Radius Given Perimeter and
Area
A sector has area cm2 and
perimeter cm. Determine Area of sector:
the possible radio of the
sector and the
corresponding angle Perimeter:
subtended by the arc for
each. 𝑟
𝜃 24 Use
𝜃= 2 substitution
𝑟

We have two
2 𝑟 +𝑟
24
𝑟 ( )
2
=14
24
unknowns ( and ), but 2𝑟+ =14
𝑟
also two equations 2
(known area and 2 𝑟 − 14 𝑟 + 24=0
perimeter), so can
form simultaneous
equations. 24 𝟖 24
𝜃= = 𝜃=
or =𝟏 . 𝟓
3
2
𝟑 4
2
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 584r
s/

13 [Edexcel IGCSE FPure Nov 2021 P1 Q3 Area of sector:

Figure 1 shows the sector 𝐴𝑂𝐵 of a

edited]

circle with centre 𝑂 and radius 𝑟 cm,

2
𝑟 𝜃 =33.6
where 𝑟 is an integer. 33.6
The size of angle 𝐴𝑂𝐵 is 𝜃
𝜃= 2
𝑟
radians. The sector has Perimeter:
an area of cm2 and a

Calculate the value of 𝑟

perimeter of cm.
Substitution:
and the value of 𝜃.
?33.6
(8
marks)
2 𝑟 +𝑟
𝑟(2 )
=16.4

33.6
2𝑟+ =1
𝑟
2
2 𝑟 −16.4 𝑟 + 33.6=0
Mark Scheme ?
33.6
𝜃= 2
=𝟐 .𝟏
4
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 584r
s/

13 [Edexcel IGCSE FPure Nov 2021 P1 Q3

Figure 1 shows the sector 𝐴𝑂𝐵 of a

edited]

circle with centre 𝑂 and radius 𝑟 cm,

where 𝑟 is an integer.
The size of angle 𝐴𝑂𝐵 is 𝜃
radians. The sector has
an area of cm2 and a

Calculate the value of 𝑟

perimeter of cm.

and the value of 𝜃. (8

marks)

Alternative Mark Scheme ?