Arcs & sectors

Tier: #Foundation #Higher

🔗What you need to know first
How to

A sector is a "pizza slice" of a circle, bounded by two radii and an arc. An arc is the curved part of the sector's boundary.

Arc length: $$L = \frac{\theta}{360} \times 2\pi r$$

Sector area: $$A = \frac{\theta}{360} \times \pi r^2$$

where $\theta$ is the angle of the sector in degrees and $r$ is the radius.

Example: Sector with radius 6 cm and angle 120°: $$\text{Arc length} = \frac{120}{360} \times 2\pi \times 6 = \frac{1}{3} \times 12\pi = 4\pi \approx 12.6\text{ cm}$$ $$\text{Sector area} = \frac{120}{360} \times \pi \times 36 = \frac{1}{3} \times 36\pi = 12\pi \approx 37.7\text{ cm}^2$$

Perimeter of a sector = arc length + 2 radii.

Common error: using the full circumference/area formula without the fraction $\frac{\theta}{360}$, or forgetting to add the two radii when finding the perimeter.

Questions to practise

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📝Past paper questions
💬What the examiners say
  • "Students who started with the correct arc length formula (based on 2πr) usually completed the question successfully."
  • "Many confused area with perimeter; the most successful learners started with a complete equation before solving, ensuring they used the correct formula."
⬆️How you can quickly improve
  • Write all three components of the sector perimeter before calculating: arc length + radius + radius.
  • Don't use a protractor or ruler on an exam diagram — every value must come from given information or your calculations.
  • For composite area problems, mark clearly on the diagram which regions you're adding and which you're subtracting.
💡Watch
ℹ️Calculator tricks

Enter $(\theta \div 360) \times \pi \times r^2$ as one calculation using brackets to avoid errors.