Chapter 6: Circles

6.1 Circles

6.1.1 Identifying circle

A circle is a set if points that are equidistant from a fixed point

6.1.2 Identifying parts of a circle

a. Centre of a circle :

The centre of a circle is a fixed point from which the distance to any points on the
circumference is constant

b. Circumference

The circumference of circle is the length of curve which makes the circle

c. Radius

The radius is any straight line drawn from the centre of a circle to the
circumference

d. Diameter

The diameter of a circle is the straight line drawn from one side of the circle to
the other side and which passes through the centre

e. Chord

A chord is any straight line drawn across a circle, beginning and ending on the
circumference of the circle. A chord which passes through the centre of a circle is its
diameter

f. Arc

An arc of a circle is any part of the circumference

i. Minor arc

An arc that is smaller than the arc of a semicircle

ii. Major arc

An arc that is bigger than the arc of a semicircle

g. Sector

A sector of a circle is a shape enclosed by an arc and the two radii on either side of
the arc

i. Minor Sector

A sector that is smaller than a semicircle

ii. Major sector

A sector that is bigger than a semicircle

h. Segment

A segment of a circle is a shape enclosed between a chord and the arc joining the
ends of the chord

i. Minor segment

A segment that is smaller than a semicircle

ii. Major segment

A segment that is bigger than a semicircle

6.2 Circumference of a circle

6.2.1 The value of π

1. The circumference of a circle is the length of the curve which makes up the circle.

2. For every circle, the ratio of circumference to its diameter is constant

3. This constant is known as a π (pi) . The value of π is equal to 22/7 or 3.142

approximately

6.2.2 Finding the circumference of a circle

Formula of circumference

Circumference = 2πr or πD

Example 1

Calculate the circumference of a circle with a diameter of 14 cm (Use π =3.142)

Example 2

The circumference of a circle is 33 cm. Calculate its diameter and its radius (Use π =
22/7)

Example 3

Alwin rolls a wheel along a straight line AB. The distance of AB is 19.8 m and the wheel
makes 15 rotations. What is the radius of the wheel, in cm? (Use π = 22/7)

6.3 Arc of a circle

6.3.1 Length of an arc

1. An arc of a circle is any part of the circumference

2. The length of an arc is proportional to the angle subtended at the centreof the
circle

Length of an arc can be calculated by :

𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑐 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑒
=
𝐶𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 360°

Example 4

Calculate the length of arc which subtends an angle of 45° at the centre of a circle
with radius of 14 cm. (Use π = 22/7)
Example 5

The circumference of a circle is 100 cm . Calculate the length of an arc which

subtends at an angle of 70° at the centre of the circle.

Example 6

If the radius of circle given is 18 cm and the arc AB is of 33 cm with an angle p, find
the value of p.

6.4 Area of a circle

Area of a circle is the amount of space in the circle

π𝐷 2
Area of a circle = π𝑟 2 or 4

Radius of circle ,r from area ,

To find the area of annulus

Area of annulus

= Area of big circle – Area of small circle

O
= π𝑅 2 - π𝑟 2

annulus
Example 7

Calculate the area of the following circles (Use π = 22/7)

a. a radius of 8.4 cm b. A diameter of 10 cm

Example 8

The area of a circle is 528 𝑐𝑚2 . Calculate

a. the radius , the diameter and the circumference of the circle (Use π = 22/7)

Example 9

Find the area of circular field with a circumference of 132 m. (Use π = 22/7)

Example 10

Calculate the area of the annulus

(Use π = 22/7)
6.5 Area of a sector

1. The area of a sector is the area enclosed by an arc and two radii on either side of
the arc.

2. The area of a sector is proportional to its angle at the centre of the circle

3. The area of sector is calculated by using following formula:

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑒
=
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒 360°

Example 11

Calculate the area of the sector which subtends an angle of 70° at the centre of the
circle with a radius of 8 cm. (Use π = 22/7)

Example 12

The area of a shaded sector of a circle with a radius of 14 cm is 61.6 𝑐𝑚2 . Calculate the
angle subtended at the centre of the circle. (Use π = 22/7)

Example 13

The area of a shaded region in the circle with centre O is 48 𝑐𝑚2 . Given that angle
subtended at the centre is 144°, calculate the radius of the circle. (Use π = 22/7)