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Circle Properties and Angles

CONCEPTS

Properties of Central Angle

• Central angle, θ, is the angle of a sector. It has 2 lines extending from the center to a point on the circle

• Central angle (θ) = 360° * area of sector / area of circle

Central angle (θ) = 360° * circumference of sector / circumference of circle



Arc length

• Arc length is the length of the circle encompassed by the sector

• Arc length (or sector circumference) = 2πr * θ / 360°

Sector area

• Sector area = πr² * θ / 360°

PRACTICE PROBLEMS

Question 1 A sector of a circle has an area equal to 5/12 of the area of the circle. What is the measure of the sectors central angle?


-- Answer -- 150°

5/12 * 360° = 150°



Question 2 A fan has 5 identical blades evenly spaced around the center of the fan. What’s the measure of the angle that would move Blade M to the Blade N position (see figure below)?


-- Answer -- 72°

360° / 5 = 72°

ACT PRACTICE PROBLEMS

72g

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