High School Math : How to find the area of a sector

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Math

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Example Questions

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Example Question #21 : Geometry

A circular, 8-slice pizza is placed in a square box that has dimensions four inches larger than the diameter of the pizza. If the box covers a surface area of 256 in2, what is the surface area of one piece of pizza?

Possible Answers:

36π in2

144π in2

18π in2

9π in2

4.5π in2

Correct answer:

4.5π in2

Explanation:

The first thing to do is calculate the dimensions of the pizza box. Based on our data, we know 256 = s2. Solving for s (by taking the square root of both sides), we get 16 = s (or s = 16).

 

Now, we know that the diameter of the pizza is four inches less than 16 inches. That is, it is 12 inches. Be careful! The area of the circle is given in terms of radius, which is half the diameter, or 6 inches. Therefore, the area of the pizza is π * 62 = 36π in2. If the pizza is 8-slices, one slice is equal to 1/8 of the total pizza or (36π)/8 = 4.5π in2.

Example Question #3 : Sectors

Slide1

If B is a circle with line AC = 12 and line BC = 16, then what is the area formed by DBE?

Possible Answers:

5\pi

200

144

256\pi

100\pi

Correct answer:

100\pi

Explanation:

Line AB is a radius of Circle B, which can be found using the Pythagorean Theorem:

AB^2=AC^2+BC^2\rightarrow AB=\sqrt{AC^2+BC^2}=\sqrt{16^2+12^2}=\sqrt{400}=20

Since AB is a radius of B, we can find the area of circle B via:

Area=\pi R^2=\pi(20^2)=400\pi

Angle DBE is a right angle, and therefore of the circle so it follows:

Area(DBE)=\frac{400}{4}\pi=100\pi   

Example Question #5 : Circles

To the nearest tenth, give the area of a  sector of a circle with diameter 18 centimeters.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The radius of a circle with diameter 18 centimeters is half that, or 9 centimeters. The area of a  sector of the circle is 

Example Question #6 : Circles

Find the area of a sector that has an angle of 120 degrees and radius of 3.

Possible Answers:

 

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The equation to find the area of a sector is .

Substitute the given radius in for  and the given angle in for  to get:

Simplify the equation to get the area:

 

Example Question #1 : Circles

What is the area of the following sector of a full circle?

Arch

Note: Figure is not drawn to scale.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the fraction of a sector from an angle, you need to know that a full circle is .

Therefore, we can find the fraction by dividing the angle of the sector by :

The formula to find the area of a sector is:

where is the radius of the circle.

Plugging in our values, we get:

Example Question #11 : Sectors

Find the area of the shaded region:

Screen_shot_2014-02-27_at_6.35.30_pm

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the area of the shaded region, you must subtract the area of the triangle from the area of the sector.

The formula for the shaded area is:

,

where  is the radius of the circle,  is the fraction of the sector,  is the base of the triangle, and  is the height of the triangle.

In order to the find the base and height of the triangle, use the formula for a  triangle:

, where  is the side opposite the .

 

Plugging in our final values, we get:

Example Question #12 : Sectors

Find the area of the following sector:

6

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The formula for the area of a sector is

,

where  is the radius of the circle and  is the fraction of the sector.

Plugging in our values, we get:

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Area Of A Sector

Circle

The radius of the circle above is  and .  What is the area of the shaded section of the circle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Area of Circle = πr2 = π42 = 16π

Total degrees in a circle = 360

Therefore 45 degree slice = 45/360 fraction of circle = 1/8

Shaded Area = 1/8 * Total Area = 1/8 * 16π = 2π

Example Question #13 : Sectors

Find the area of the shaded segment of the circle. The right angle rests at the center of the circle.

 

Question_11

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We know that the right angle rests at the center of the circle; thus, the sides of the triangle represent the radius of the circle.

Because the sector of the circle is defined by a right triangle, the region corresponds to one-fourth of the circle.

First, find the total area of the circle and divide it by four to find the area of the depicted sector.

Next, calculate the area of the triangle.

Finally, subtract the area of the triangle from the area of the sector.

Example Question #5 : Sectors

Square-missing

 is a square.

The arc from to  is a semicircle with a center at the midpoint of .

All units are in feet.

The diagram shows a plot of land.

The cost of summer upkeep is $2.50 per square foot.

In dollars, what is the total upkeep cost for the summer?

Possible Answers:

 

 

Correct answer:

 

Explanation:

To solve this, we must begin by finding the area of the diagram, which is the area of the square less the area of the semicircle. 

The area of the square is straightforward:

30 * 30 = 900 square feet

Because each side is 30 feet long, AB + BC + CD = 30.  

We can substitute BC for AB and CD since all three lengths are the same:

BC + BC + BC = 30 

3BC = 30

BC = 10

Therefore the diameter of the semicircle is 10 feet, so the radius is 5 feet.

The area of the semi-circle is half the area of a circle with radius 5.  The area of the full circle is 52π = 25π, so the area of the semi-circle is half of that, or 12.5π.

The total area of the plot is the square less the semicircle: 900 - 12.5π square feet

The cost of upkeep is therefore 2.5 * (900 – 12.5π) = $(2250 – 31.25π).

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