ISBN 9780170350488. Chapter Two: Radian measure.

47

Chapter 2.

Radian measure.

Situation
A new machine is being designed and the design company is building a prototype. Part
of the machine involves a continuous belt passing over two wheels, as shown in the
diagram below (not drawn to scale).

The belt is to be made from a "negligible stretch, high friction compound" and is made
circular and then fitted exactly over the wheels. The belt is made by a computer
controlled machine that only requires the operator to input the length of the radius of
the circle and a circular belt of that radius will be produced.

Your task is to determine what the radius of the circular belt should be, giving your
answer in centimetres correct to two decimal places.
48 Mathematics Methods. Unit One. ISBN 9780170350488.

Arcs, sectors and segments.

The situation on the previous page required you, amongst other things, to find the length
of circular arcs. To determine the arc length you needed to determine the angle the arc
subtended at the centre of the circle. Arc lengths, chord lengths, segment and sector
areas can all be determined if we know the angle subtended at the centre of the circle
and the radius of the circle.
If you have forgotten what terms like arc, segment and sector mean then the following
diagrams should refresh your memory.

Major arc
AB

Minor sector AOB Major sector AOB Minor segment Major segment

• • • •
Example 1
Points A and B lie on the circumference of a circle centre 0, radius 50mm and are such
that aAOB = 40°. Find the length of (a) minor arc AB, (b) chord AB.
, ^ \ A
x
(a) Circumference of circle = 2 x TT x 50 mm
= IOOTT mm
40
Length of minor arc AB = x IOOTT mm
0
360
* 34-9 mm
Minor arc AB is of length 35 mm (to nearest mm.)
f \

•§K • 100U
360 IOOTT
Alternatively we could give the answer 9
IOOTT
in exact form as —7:— mm. — — • Decimal
y 34.90658504
 ISBN 9780170350488. Chapter Two: Radian measure. 49

2 2 2 c
(b) By the cosine rule A B = 50 + 50 - 2(50)(50) cos 40
4o°
/. AB a 34-2 cm 0« 50 mm B
The chord AB is of length 34 mm (to nearest mm.).

Example 2
Find the area of the segment shown shaded in the diagram
on the right.

Area of circle = n;x4-l cm 2 2

70
Area of minor sector AOB X 7 I X 4 - 1 2
cm 2

360
Shaded area = Area of sector AOB - AreaofAAOB
70 o 1 z x 4 # 1 x 4 , 1 s i n 7 0
= 3 ^ x ir x 4 - l - 2 °
2
a 2-37 c m

2
The shaded segment has an area of 2-4 c m (correct to one d.p.).

Example 3
Find the area of the segment shown shaded in the diagram on
the right giving your answer in exact form.
2
Area of circle = IT x 4
2
= 16TT c m
120
2
.\ Area of minor sector AOB = x 16TT c m
Shaded area = Area of sector AOB - AreaofAAOB
120 1
x x
= 16TT - 2 4 x 4 sin 120°

= ( 1 | H - 4 V 3 ) cm | | 2 . . 1 6 . i t - -i--4-4sin(120)

16-TT
4-V3
50 Mathematics Methods. Unit One. ISBN 9780170350488.

Exercise 2A
For numbers 1, 2 and 3 calculate the length of the arc AB shown in heavy type, giving
each answer in centimetres and correct to one decimal place.

For numbers 4, 5 and 6 calculate the length of the arc AB shown in heavy type, giving
each answer as an exact value.

4.

For numbers 7, 8 and 9 calculate the area of the shaded sector, giving each answer as an
exact value.

7.

For numbers 10,11 and 12 calculate the area of the shaded sector, giving each answer to
the nearest square centimetre.
 ISBN 9780170350488. Chapter Two: Radian measure. 51

For numbers 13,14 and 15 calculate the area of the shaded segment, giving each answer
to the nearest square centimetre.

2
has area 90 c m .

For numbers 16,17 and 18 calculate the area of the shaded segment, giving each answer
as an exact value.

19. A and B are two points on the circumference of a circle centre 0 and radius 15-2 cm.
If Z.A0B = 112° find the length of (a) the minor arc AB,
(b) the major arc AB.

20. A and B are two points on the circumference of a circle centre 0. Angle AOB is of
size 75° and the minor arc AB is of length 24 cm. Calculate the radius of the circle in
centimetres, correct to one decimal place.

21. Points A and B lie on the circumference of a circle centre 0, radius 15 cm. Find the
area of the minor sector AOB given that Z.A0B = 50°.

22. A and B are two points on the circumference of a circle centre 0 and radius 18 cm.
Find the area of the minor segment cut off by the chord AB given that Z.OAB = 20°.

23. Find the size of the acute angle AOB, correct to the nearest degree, given that A and
B are two points on the circumference of a circle centre 0, radius 12 cm, and the
2
major sector AOB has an area of 378 cm .

24. Find the area of the minor segment cut off by a chord of length 10 cm drawn in a
circle of radius 12 cm, giving your answer in square centimetres correct to one
decimal place.

25. A clock has an hour hand of length 8 cm and a minute hand of length 12 cm.
Calculate the distance travelled by the tip of each hand in half an hour.
(Give your answers in exact form.)
52 Mathematics Methods. Unit One. ISBN 9780170350488.

26. One nautical mile is defined to be the distance on the surface of the earth that
subtends an angle of one minute at the centre of the earth (1 degree = 60 minutes).
How many nautical miles are travelled by a ship travelling due North and changing
its latitude from 5°N to 8°N?
Assuming the earth to be a sphere of radius 6350 km express one nautical mile in
kilometres, correct to two decimal places.

27. A minor sector is removed from a circular

piece of card (see figure 1). By joining OA
to OB the remaining major sector forms a
conical hat (see figure 2). Find h and r, the
height and base radius of the hat.
Figure 1 Figure 2

Radians.
Consider the concentric circles shown
on the right. Lines OA and OB are
drawn from the common centre 0 (see
diagram). The minor arcs A B , A B , 1 1 2 2

A3B3 and A B each subtend an angle

4 4

0° at 0 and will be of increasing

length.
A B e x 2 nr.
i i 360
A B
e
360 x 2Ttr„
2 2

e
A3B3 360 x 2 Tt r.,
A B
e radius r f
360 x 2irr,
4 4

Note that the ratio of arc length, A B , to radius, r , is constant:

n n n

AB A B A B
1 1
2 2
A3B3 4 4 6
*1 '2 '3 '4
360 x 2 t t
This ratio of arc length to radius can be used as a measure of angle and gives us an
alternative unit for measuring angles.

This unit is called a radian and proves to be a very useful measure of angle for advanced
mathematics. If the ratio of arc length to radius is equal to 1 the angle subtended at the
centre is 1 radian.
 ISBN 9780170350488. Chapter Two: Radian measure. 53

An arc of length 1 unit, in a circle of unit radius,

subtends an angle of 1 radian at the centre of the circle. 0 _,. ^—^Arc length
° 2 radians T ^ V - ^ J N . n ^
An arc of length 2 units, in a circle of unit radius,
subtends an angle of 2 radians at the centre of the
circle, and so on.

Radians <-> degrees.

An arc of length 1 unit, in a circle of unit radius, subtends an angle of 1 radian at the
centre of the circle. Thus an arc of length 2TT units, in a circle of unit radius, will subtend
an angle of 2n radians at the centre of the circle. However, if the radius is 1 unit an arc
of 2TT (1) is the full circumference of the circle and will subtend an angle of 360° at the
centre.
Thus 2n radians = 360°

IT radians = 180°

Thus, correct to one decimal place, 1 radian is equivalent to 57-3°.

Example 4
Convert (a) 60° (b) 90° and (c) 125° to radians, leaving your answers in terms of I T .

(a) 180° = IT radians (b) 180° = TT radians (c) 180° = TT radians

n n n
o
/. 1° = radians
o
I = radians .-. I = radians
180 180 180
n n
. 60° = — x 60 /. 90° = x90 /. 125° = xl25
180 180 180
n n 257F
= — radians = — radians radians
3 2 36
54 Mathematics Methods. Unit One. ISBN 9780170350488.

Note • To convert degrees «-» radians we use the exact result TT radians = 180° rather
than the approximation 1 radian « 57-3°.
• When an angle is given in radians the word radian is optional. The answer to
TT TT
example 4(a) could be given as g radians or simply as g" .
When an angle is given with no units stated then the angle should be assumed
to be in radians.
n n V3
• Knowing conversions such as — radians = 60° it follows that sin — = — .
3 3 2
Example 5
n
Convert (a) — radians (b) 2-3 radians to degrees, correct to the nearest degree if
8
rounding is necessary.

(a) TT radians = 180° (b) TT radians = 180°

n 180 180
.*. — radians = degrees 1 radian = degrees
8 8 n
= 22-5 c
180
,\ 2*3 radians = x 2-3
n
= 132° to nearest degree

*er Explore the capability of your calculator to change between the various units for
measuring angle.

The next example shows that the trigonometrical ratios can still be applied with angles
given in radians. We do not need to change the angles to degrees but instead set our
calculator to read angles as radians.

Example 6
Find the length of side AB as shown in the 5-2 cm 1-2 racT
diagram on the right.
B

Let AB be of length x cm.

x
tan 1-2 = ^ 2
x = 5-2 tan 1-2
* 13-38
The side AB is of length 13-4 cm, correct to one decimal place.
 ISBN 9780170350488. Chapter Two: Radian measure. 55

Exercise 2B
For numbers 1 to 6 state the size of angle 0 in radians.

1.

Express the following as degrees.

II IT
17. y rads 18. IT rads
15. ^ rads 16. 3 rads
21. ? T rads 22. rads
19. rads 20. ? rads

Express the following as radians, correct to two decimal places.

23. 32° 24. 63° 25. 115° 26. 170°
27. 16° 28. 84° 29. 104° 30. 26°
56 Mathematics Methods. Unit One. ISBN 9780170350488.

Change the following to degrees giving answers correct to the nearest degree.
31. l-5rads 32. 2-3 rads 33. l-4rads 34. 0-6rads

Without using a calculator state the exact values of the following.

5TT 3TT TT
35. 36. 37. cosy 38. sin 2

2TC 3TT TT 2TT

39. smy 40. sin "¡7 41. 42. tany
cos 1
TT TT 2TI 5TT
43. cos 2 44. tan 2 45. cosy 46. tan-g-

5TT TT
47. cosy 48. tanTt 49. cos g 50. sinir

Use your calculator to determine the following correct to two decimal places.
51. sin 1 52. cos 2 53. tan 2-5 54. sin 3
55. cos 0-6 56. cos 0-15 57. tan 1-3 58. sin 2-3

Find the acute angle 9 in each of the following giving your answers in radians correct to
two decimal places.
59. sin 6 = 0-2 60. cos 9 = 0-2 61. tan 9 = 0-35 62. tan 9 = 1-7

63. Convert the following angular speeds to radians/second.

(a) 3 revolutions/second, (b) 15 revolutions/minute, (c) 90 degrees/second.

64. Convert the following angular speeds to revolutions/minute.

(a) 2n radians/minute, (b) radians/second, (c) radians/second.

Find the value of x in each of the following, giving your answers correct to one decimal

cm
 ISBN 9780170350488. Chapter Two: Radian measure. 57

71. Through what angle, in radians, does the minute hand of a clock rotate in
(a) 15 minutes, (b) 40 minutes, (c) 50 minutes, (d] 55 minutes?

72. A grad is another unit that can be used to measure angles. One right angle = 100
grads. Convert the following to radians.
(a) 50 grads, (b) 75 grads, (c) 10 grads, (d) 130 grads?

73. A simple gauge is to be made for

measuring the diameter of pipes.
The gauge will be in the form of a
rectangular piece of wood from
which a V-shape has been cut.
The V is then placed on the pipe
and the point of contact, D, (see
diagram) allows the diameter to
be read directly from the
graduations on AB.
The V shape is cut such that ABAC = 1 radian and AB = AC = 12 cm.
(a) Draw a line 12 cm long to represent BA. Calibrate it so that diameters from
1 cm to 12 cm could be read directly from the point of contact.
u
(b) Would calibration have been simpler if Z.BAC = j radians? Explain your
answer.

Arcs, sectors and segments revisited.

Let us now consider again arc lengths, sector areas and segment areas but this time let
the angle subtended at the centre of the circle be in radians. ^ - ~ ^ \ x v

arc length yr / X ^
The central angle, in radians, is given by radius " / / \^
£ ( /Brads \ \
Thus 9 = — with 9, and r as defined in the diagram on the right.
Thus £ =r6.

Arc length = r9
58 Mathematics Methods. Unit One. ISBN 9780170350488.

Remembering that 1 revolution is 2u radians it follows

that, with 8 as shown in the diagram on the right,
Area of sector AOB
2n 0'

0
Sector area = ^ x Tir,2

• J A

Thus Sector area = 2 r

8

From the diagram on the right we see that

Shaded area = Area of sector AOB - Area of AAOB
1 2
ö r sin 9

2
2i- (e - sine)

Thus Segment area = 2 1-2

(6 - sin 8)

Example 7
Calculate the area of the shaded region in each of the following diagrams,
(a) (b)
1-4 rads

f 2
1 •»
(a) Sector area = 2 ^ (b) 2
Area = ^ r (6 - sinS)

=
1
2*16
2
* 1"*
2
=I 2
x 21 x (1-8 - sin 1-8)
= 179-2 c m * 182-2 c m 2

2
The shaded region has area 179 c m . The shaded region has area 182 c m .2

2
(To the nearest cm .) (To the nearest cm .)2
 ISBN 9780170350488. Chapter Two: Radian measure. 59

Example 8
Points A and B are points on the circumference of a circle, centre 0 and radius 4 cm. If
the minor arc AB is of length 10 cm find the area of the minor sector AOB.

2
The minor sector AOB has an area of 20 cm .

Exercise 2C
Find the lengths of the arcs shown by heavy type in the following diagrams.

1.

8 = 0-8 radians 0 = 2-5 radians 0 = 4-5 radians

Find the areas of the sectors shown shaded in the following diagrams.

zAOB = 1 radian z A 0 B = 2 -5 radians 0 = 4 radians

Find the areas of the segments shown shaded in the following diagrams.

0 = 1 radian 0 = 3-5 radians 0 = 2-2 radians

60 Mathematics Methods. Unit One. ISBN 9780170350488.

10. Find the length of the arc AB given that it subtends an angle of 1-2 radians at the
centre of the circle of which it forms a part and the radius of the circle is 15 cm.

11. Points A and B lie on the circumference of a circle, centre 0, radius 15 cm. If the
minor arc AB subtends an angle of 0-8 radians at 0 find the area of
(a) the minor sector OAB,
(b) the major sector OAB (to the nearest square centimetre).

12. A and B are two points on a circle centre 0 and radius 8 cm. If arc AB subtends an
angle of 1 radian at 0 find
(a) the length of the minor arc AB,
(b) the area of that part of the minor sector OAB not lying in triangle OAB. (Give
your answer in square centimetres correct to one decimal place.)

13. A and B lie on the circumference of a circle centre 0 and radius 5 cm. The minor
2
sector OAB has an area of 15 c m .
(a) Calculate the length of the minor arc AB,
(b) Calculate the area of the minor segment cut off by the chord AB. (Give your
answer in square centimetres correct to two decimal places).

14. Points A and B lie on the circumference of a circle, centre at point 0 and with
radius 8 cm.
If the minor arc AB is of length 20 cm find the area of the minor sector OAB.

15. Points A and B lie on the circumference of a circle, centre O and of radius 6 cm. If
2
the minor sector OAB has an area of 9 c m find the area of the minor segment cut
off by the chord AB. (Giving your answer in square centimetres correct to two
decimal places.)
B

16. Find the area of the shaded region shown sketched

on the right given that 0 is the centre of both
circles, OD = DC = 6 cm and 9 = 1-5 radians,

17. Find the area of the shaded region shown sketched

on the right given that O is the centre of both
circles, OA = 5 cm, AB = 4 cm and 9 = 3 radians.
 ISBN 9780170350488. Chapter Two: Radian measure. 61

18. The diagram on the right shows two

overlapping circles with the region common to
both circles shown shaded.
Find the area of this shaded region given that
Z . 0 A 0 and Z_0 B0 are right angles.
1 2 1 2

(Give your answer in square centimetres, and

correct to one decimal place.)

19. The diagram on the right shows two circles

with common centre 0. The region shown
shaded is bounded by the minor arc BC, the
chord AD and the lines CD and BA. Calculate
the area of this region given that OA = 5 cm,
AB = 3 cm and ZAOD = 0-8 radians.
(Give your answer in square centimetres, and
correct to one decimal place.)

20. The diagram on the right shows the two tangents

drawn from the point C to a circle centre 0 and
radius 6 cm, touching the circle at the points A and B.
Find the area of the region shown shaded.
(The angle between a tangent and the radius drawn
at the point of contact is a right angle.)
(Give your answer in square centimetres and correct
to one decimal place.)

21. Calculate the area of the region shown shaded in

the diagram on the right given that Z.AOB = 0-5
radians, Z.BOC = 1 radian, ZCOD = 0-5 radians and
the circle is of radius 5 cm. (Give your answer in
square centimetres and correct to two decimal
places.)

22. A pendulum AB has end A fixed and a weight attached at B.

In one swing the weight travels from B to C and back again
(see diagram).
The pendulum is of length 75 cm and LBAC = 0*8 radians.
(a) How far does the weight travel in one swing?
(b) By how much does the length of the arc BC exceed that
of the chord BC? (Answer to the nearest millimetre)
62 Mathematics Methods. Unit One. ISBN 9780170350488.

24. Two circles of radius 10 cm and 7 cm have their centres 15 cm apart. Find the
perimeter of the region common to both circles, giving your answer in centimetres
and correct to one decimal place.

25. What percentage of the circumference of a circular disc of

radius 10 cm can be illuminated from a point source of
light in the plane of the disc and 12 cm from it (see
diagram)? Give your answer to the nearest percent.

26. A goat is tethered to a post by a rope that is ten metres long. The goat is able to
graze over any area that the rope allows it to reach other than that excluded by a
straight fence. The perpendicular distance from the post to the fence is 6 m. Over
what area can the goat graze (to the nearest square metre)?

27. A goat is tethered to a post by a rope that is twelve metres long. If the post is
situated half way between two parallel fences that are ten metres apart. Over what
area can the goat graze (to the nearest square metre)?

28. Find, to the nearest centimetre, the length of

the continuous belt passing around two
wheels as shown in the diagram on the Wheel of
right. radius 16 cm.
Wheel of
I radius 6 cm.
 ISBN 9780170350488. Chapter Two: Radian measure. 63

29. A door is to be made to the specifications shown in the

diagram i.e. a circular segment on top of a rectangle. The top
segment is part of a circle having its centre at the intersection
of the diagonals of the rectangle ABCD.
If AB = 80 cm and AD = 200 cm find the area of the door
correct to the nearest ten square centimetres.

30. Find, to the nearest

centimetre, the length
of the continuous belt
passing around the
three wheels as shown
in the diagram on the
right (not drawn to
scale).

2
31. (a) A minor sector of a circle has perimeter 14 cm and area 10 cm .
Find the radius of the circle.
2
(b) A major sector of a circle has perimeter 14 cm and area 10 cm .
Find the radius of the circle.

32. Circles of radius 10 cm and 5 cm touch each

other tangentially and both touch the line AB
(see diagram). Find the area of the region
shown shaded in the diagram.
2
(Answer to nearest 0-1 cm .)
B

33. Triangle ABC has AB = 7 cm, AC = 6 cm and BC = 5 cm. Three circles are drawn,
one with centre A and radius 4 cm, one with centre B and radius 3 cm and one with
centre C and radius 2 cm. What percentage of the area of the triangle fails to lie in
any of the circles? (Answer to nearest 0-1%.)
64 Mathematics Methods. Unit One. ISBN 9780170350488.

Miscellaneous Exercise Two.

This miscellaneous exercise may include questions involving the work of this chapter,
the work of any previous chapters, and the ideas mentioned in the preliminary work
section at the beginning of the book.
1. Without the assistance of a calculator, expand each of the following,
(a) O + 3) (2 x - 1) (b) 0 + 7) (3x - 4)
(c) 0+ 5) ( x - ! ) ( * + 3) (d) (2x +1)0- 3)(x - 2)

Simplify each of the following by expressing them as equivalent statements without

any square roots in the denominators (i.e. rationalize the denominators).
1 1 5 (d) 6
(a)
Vf M
Vf w
Vf vi b-Vc
Hint for (e) to (h): To simplify : ;= multiply by 1, written in the form - ;= •
v J

1 1 b + Vc ' b - V c
(e) (0 3 - V 2 (g) 00 V5 + V 2
3 + VÏÏ 1 + V5

From a point A, level with the

base of the town hall, the angle
of elevation of the topmost point
of the building is 35°.
From point B, also at ground
level but 30 metres closer to the
hall, the same point has an angle
of elevation of 60°.
Find how high the topmost point 30 m
is above ground level. (Give your answer correct to the nearest metre.)

A playground roundabout of radius 1-8 m makes one revolution every five seconds.
Find, to the nearest centimetre, the distance travelled by a point on the roundabout in
one second if the point is
(a) 1-8 m from the centre of rotation,
(b) 1 m from the centre of rotation.

From a lighthouse, ship A is 17-2 km away on a bearing S60°E and ship B is 14-1 km
away on a bearing N80°W.
How far, and on what bearing, is B from A?
6 7 2 m
B '
82°
The diagram on the right shows the sketch made by a
surveyor after taking measurements for a block of
land ABCD.
Find the area and the perimeter of the block. 67°

87.8