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Sector Area

Part of the Angles and the Unit Circle section of Coddy's Trigonometry journey. Lesson 21 of 55.

A sector is a slice of the disc. Its angle θ is the fraction θ2π\frac{\theta}{2\pi} of a full turn, so its area is that fraction of the whole disc, π⋅r2\pi\cdot {r}^{2}. The π cancels:

A=12⋅r2⋅θA = \frac{1}{2}\cdot {r}^{2}\cdot \theta

A shaded sector of a circle of radius 6 with angle π/3

The sector is π/3 out of 2π: one sixth of the disc.

With radius 6 and π3\frac{\pi}{3}: A=12⋅62⋅π3A = \frac{\frac{1}{2}\cdot {6}^{2}\cdot \pi}{3}, which is 6π6\pi. Check it as a fraction: π/3 is a sixth of a turn, and a sixth of 36π is 6π. As with arcs, θ is in radians.

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Challenge

A sector has radius 10 and angle 3π5\frac{3\pi}{5}. On the blank board, write A with the numbers put into A = ½r²θ, then a line with A exact, as a multiple of π\pi. Then press Check.

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This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

quiz iconTest yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Angles and the Unit Circle