Circular Measures

Definition:
1 Radian is the angle subtended at the centre of unit
circle by an arc of unit length.

1
1 1 radian = 1c

1 radian
Radians proof

C  2r
r r
Hence the total angle subtended
by the entire circumference at
r the centre is 2 radians

Hence 2 c  360o
 c  180o

180 
1 radian  1 degree 
 180
Conversions (to and from) radians, degrees
Degrees to radians


180
Example
3
135°= 135  
180 4

180
Radians to degrees 

Example
180
2.7c= 2.7   154.7

Example
a) Find the length of the side labelled x
b) Find the area of the triangle below Remember to put
your calculator in
radian mode.

(a) x 2  7 2  52  2  7  5  cos 0.6

5 X
 16.2265
x  4.03
0.6c
7 1
(b) Area   5  7  sin 0.6
2
 9.88
Arc Length and sector area

A Arc length

l l  r
r
A
 Area of sector
r B

Where  is in radians 1 2
A r 
2
Example
Given that the arc length of a sector with radius 4cm is
3cm, find
(i) The angle subtended at the centre of the sector
(ii)The area of the sector.

(i) l  r (ii) 1 2
A r
3  4 2
1 2 3

3  4 
4 2 4
 6 cm 2
Example
The diagram shows a circle O and radius 2cm.
The perimeter of the sector AOB is 7cm. Find
the area of the shaded region, giving your
answer to three decimal places.
O
 B
Perimeter = 7 and radius 2  Arc length = 3
l  r
3  2
A 
3
2
1 2 1 3
Area of sector  r    22   3 cm 2
2 2 2
1 1
Area of Triangle  ab sin    2  2  sin 1.5  1.994.. cm
2
2 2
Area shaded  3  1.994..  1.005 cm 2