CHAPTER 3: LENGTH OF ARC AND AREA OF SECTOR

Arc length and the area of a sector are proportional to the angle subtended at the centre of the
circle.
Arc length of AB =

2 r
360

A
Area of sector AOB =

r2
360

B
Skill assessed
Calculate the arc length when the radius r and angle are given.
Calculate the perimeter of an enclosed shape, involving sectors and triangles.
Calculate the area of a shaded region, involving sectors, triangles and segments
Usual format of questions
A diagram and other information are given.
By using

22
, calculate (a) the perimeter of the whole diagram
7
(b) the area of the shaded region.

Strategies for problem solving

1. Identify the perimeter of the whole diagram by tracing the outline of the perimeter using
colour.
2. Identify the values of the corresponding radius and angle for the arc length which you want to
find.
3. Calculate the arc length by using the correct formulae.
4. Repeat the process if there is another arc length with different radius and angle.
5. Find the perimeter by adding the arc lengths and the length of straight lines.
6. Identify the region for which you want to find its area.
7. Identify the values of the corresponding radius and angle for the sector.
8. Calculate the area of the shaded region by using the correct formulae.
Common Errors
Students used the wrong formula.
Students used wrong values for radius or angle.
Students used other values of like 3.14.
Students using the Additional Mathematics method round off the value of angle in radian to 2
or 3 significant figures only.
Students calculated the perimeter of the shaded region when the question asked the perimeter of
the whole diagram.
Students did not read the question carefully to extract the right information.

Length of Arc & Area of sector

3.1. CIRCUMFERENCE

r
Circumference
= 2r, where r is a radius
O

Example: Use =

22
7

Ex

Radius = 7 cm
Circumference
= 2 ( 7 )
22
7
= 2
7
= 44 cm

Exercise A
1.

Exercise B
1.
O

14

2.

Radius = 14 cm
Circumference =

Radius = 16 cm
Circumference =

Diameter = 14 cm
Radius =
Circumference =

2.

Length of Arc & Area of sector

Example: Diameter = 7 cm
1
Radius
=3
cm
2
1
Circumference = 2 (3
)
2
22
=2x
x
7
= 22 cm

Diameter
= 140 mm
Radius
=
Circumference =

7
2

3.
Radius = 10 cm

3.

Diameter = 35 cm
Radius =
Circumference =

Circumference =
O

10

3.2. ARC OF A CIRCLE

In the diagram, arc AB subtended an angle at the centre O

with radius r. B
O

2 r
Length of arc =
360o

22
7

Example: Use =

O
7
90
A

Example: Use = 3.142

Radius = 7 cm
Minor arc of AB
90
=
90o 2 ( 7 )
360
90
22
=
2x
x 7

360
7

O
3
60
A

= 11 cm

= 3.142 cm

Exercise A

Exercise B

1.

1.

Radius = 5 cm
= 80o

Radius = 14 cm
= 45o

Radius
= 3 cm
Minor arc of AB =
60
=
2 (3)
360
60
=
2 3.142
360
3

14

O
45

Minor arc of AB =
A

Length of Arc & Area of sector

Minor arc of AB =
80

2.

Radius = 21 cm
= 135o
Minor arc of AB =

2.
Radius = 20 cm
= 120o
Minor arc of AB =

21
135

120

3.

Diameter = 7 cm
Radius =
Major arc of AB =

3.

Diameter = 18 cm
= 60o
Radius =
Major arc of AB =

60o
A

3.3. PERIMETER OF SHADED REGION

AB subtended an angle at the centre O with radius

r.

A
r
O

Perimeter of shaded region = Arc AB + OB + OA

= Arc AB + 2r

Example:

Example:

A
7

Minor arc of AB
90
22
=
2x
x 7

360
7
B

12
O

80

Minor arc of AB
80
B = 360 2
= 16.76

= 11 cm
Perimeter of shaded region
= 7 + 7 + 11
= 25 cm

Length of Arc & Area of sector

Perimeter of shaded region

= 16.76 + 12 + 12
= 40.76 cm

3.142 12

Exercise A

Exercise B

1.

1.
21

Minor arc of AB
=

120

Minor arc of AB
=

100

B Perimeter of shaded region

=

Perimeter of shaded region

=
2.

Major arc of AB =

2.

A
10

7
120

Major arc of AB =

30
B

Perimeter of shaded region

=

Perimeter of shaded region

=

3.4. AREA OF A CIRCLE

Area of a circle = r2
O

Example: Use =

22
7
Radius = 7 cm
Area = ( 7 )2
22
=
7
7
= 154 cm2

Length of Arc & Area of sector

Example:
Diameter

7
O

= 7 cm
1
Radius
=3
cm
2
1
Area = (3 )2
2

22 7 7

7 2 2
1
= 38 cm2
2
=

Exercise A

Exercise B

1.

Radius = 14 cm
Area =

14

1.
21
O

2.
3
O

1
2

Radius = 3 1 cm
2
Area =

2.

Diameter = 21 cm
Radius =
Area =

Diameter = 140 mm
Radius =
Area=
O

3.
3.

Diameter = 35 cm
Radius =
Area =

Radius = 10 cm
Area =
O 10

3.5. AREA OF SECTOR

Area of minor sector AOB

A
r
O

Length of Arc & Area of sector

r 2
360o

Example: Using =
A
7
B

Example: Using = 3.142

22
7

Radius = 7 cm
Area of minor sector AOB
90
=
x 72
360
90
22
=
x 7x7

360
7

12

80

12

Radius = 12 cm
Area of minor sector
80
=
3.142 x 12 x
360
= 100.544cm2

= 38.5 cm 2

Exercise 1.

Exercise B
Radius =
Area of minor sector AOB

1.
9

7
C

120

Radius =
Area of minor sector AOB
=

100

2.
2.
Radius =
Area of major sector AOB
=

A
21

10

120
C

O
B

Length of Arc & Area of sector

Radius =
Area of major sector AOB
=

30
B

3.6 AREA OF SHADED REGION

Example :

Area of shaded region =

A
7

Exercise :
1.

2.

Area of shaded region =

2
2

2
2

3.

Area of shaded region =

10

40o

O
Length of Arc & Area of sector

- 2

=
= 308

B
7

Area of shaded region =

14

Questions based on the examination format (Paper 2)

1. In the diagram below, O is the centre of the arc of the circle MNPQ and RSM is a quadrant
M
with centre P. MOP is a straight line.
S
O

240o
Q
R

Using

14 cm

22
, calculate
7

a) the perimeter of the whole diagram,

b) the area of the shaded region.

[ 6 marks]

Answer :
a) Perimeter of the whole diagram
=
=

90
22
2
14
360
7

180
22
2
7
360
7

14

58 cm

b) Area of the shaded region

90 22

142

360 7

60 22 2
7
360 7

1
= 128
cm2
3

Exercise
1. In Diagram 1, JKL is arc of circle with centre M. NML is a straight line and JN = NM =
7 cm.
K
J

N
Length of Arc & Area of sector

Diagram 1

Using

22
, calculate
7

a. the area of the shaded region, in cm2,

b. perimeter of the whole diagram, in cm.
[6 marks]

2. In Diagram 2, O is the centre of the arc of the circle PQR and a quadrant STU. OSR is
a straight line.
P

14 cm
O

45o
S

7 cm
T

Diagram 2

Using

22
, calculate
7

a. perimeter of the whole shaded region,

b. area of the whole shaded region.
[6 marks]

3. In Diagram 3, OAB, OCD and OEF are three sectors with same centre O.
B

E
7 cm

Diagram 3

40

40
O

21 cm

Given AOF, OCB and ODE are straight lines. Using

22
, calculate
7

a. the area of sector OCD,

b. the perimeter of the whole diagram.
[6 marks ]

Length of Arc & Area of sector

10

4. Diagram 4 shows three quadrants OPQ, TQR and URS. POUS is a straight line and
TOUR is a square.
Q

Diagram 4

14 cm

Using

22 , calculate
7

a) the perimeter of the whole diagram,

b) the area of the whole diagram.
[6 marks ]
5. In Diagram 5, QR and TU are two arc of circles with the same centre O. QPOU and
RSTO are straight lines.

Diagram 5
R
S
T
22
, calculate
7
Q
a) ROQ ,

Using

b) area of the shaded sector OTU,

c) perimeter of the whole diagram.

7 cm

[6 marks]

Length of Arc & Area of sector

11

6. Diagram 6 shows one circle and two semicircles with diameter PQ, QR and PR
respectively. PQR is straight line.

Diagram
6
R

Given that PQ =

1
22
PR and PR = 21 cm. Using
, calculate
3
7

a) the perimeter in cm, of the shaded region,

b) the area, in cm2, of the whole diagram

[6 marks]

7. In diagram 7, O is the centre of the circle with diameter POR = 16 cm. N is midpoint of
radius OR and PMN is a semicircle.

P
60o
O

Diagram
7
R

Using
(a)
(b)

Length of Arc & Area of sector

22
, calculate
7

the perimeter ,in cm, of the shaded region.

the area ,in cm2 ,of the shaded region.

12

[6 marks]

8. In diagram 8, TSR is a quadrant with centre O, P are the centre of the arc of the circle
OVU and a semicircle OQR..
Q

It is given that OT = 20 cm.

Using
a)
b)

22
, calculate
7

the perimeter of the whole

diagram.
the area of the shaded region.
[ 6 marks]

U
o

110
R

V
T

O
Diagram 8

9. Diagram 9 shows a sector LMN with centre

O and a semicircle OKN.
N

It is given that OL = 21 cm.

22
Using
, calculate
7

a) the perimeter of the whole diagram.

b) the area of the shaded region.
[ 6 marks]

10. In diagram 10, O is a centre of circle

with diameter KON = 14 cm. KO and
ON are diameter of two semicircles.

60o

Diagram 9
L

Given that MON = 30o.

Using
a)
b)
c)

22
, calculate
7

the arc of KLM

the area of minor sector MON
the area of the shaded region.
[6 marks]

Diagram 10

Length of Arc & Area of sector

13

Past Year SPM Questions (Paper 2)

1. November 2003
Diagram 1 shows two sectors OMN and OPQ with the same centre O and a quadrant QTO with
centre Q.

O
60o

Diagram 1
Q

P
22
, calculate
M 7

OM = 14 cm and QT = 7 cm. Using

d) the perimeter of the whole diagram.

e) the area of the shaded region.

[ 6 marks]

2. July 2004

In diagram 2, LK is an arc of a circle with centre P and PQRS is an arc of a circle with centre
O. PORL is a straight line.

60

Diagram 2

PK = 21 cm and OP = 7 cm. Using

22
, calculate
7

a) the area , in cm2 of the shaded region

b) the perimeter in cm, of the whole diagram.
Length of Arc & Area of sector

14

[7 marks ]

3. November 2004
In diagram 3, PQ and RS are arcs of two different circles with O.

Diagram 3

RQ = ST = 7 cm and PO = 14 cm.
Using

22
, calculate
7

(a)
(b)

the area, in cm2, of the shaded region,

the perimeter , in cm, of the whole diagram.

[6 marks]

4. July 2005
Diagram 4 shows two sectors, PQR and TUV, with the same centre O. The angle of each sector
is 270o. OSR is a semicircle with centre V. PTO is a straight line and OP = 14 cm.
R
S

VL

O
U
Q
Diagram 4

Using

22
, calculate
7

a) the perimeter, in cm, of the whole diagram,

b) the area, in cm2, of the shaded region.

Length of Arc & Area of sector

15

[6 marks]

5. November 2005
Diagram 5 shows two sectors ORST and OUV with the same centre O. RWO is a semicircle
with diameter RO and RO = 2OV. ROV and OUT are straight lines.
S

T
W
W

U
Diagram 5

OV = 7 cm and UOV 60o.

Using

22
, calculate
7

(a) the perimeter , in cm, of the whole diagram,

(b) the area, in cm2 , of the shaded region.

[6 marks]

6. July 2006
In diagram 6, QRS and UT are arcs of two circles, centre P and S respectively.
R
Q
T

Diagram 6

120
P

45
U

It is given that PUS is a straight line, PQ = 21 cm and US = 14 cm. Using

a) the area, in cm2, of the shaded region
b) the perimeter in cm, of the shaded region.

7. November 2006
Length of Arc & Area of sector

16

22
, calculate
7

[6 marks]

In Diagram 3, OMRN is a quadrant of a circle with centre O and PQ is an arc of another circle with
centre O.
OMP and ORQ are straight lines.

OM = MP = 7 cm and POQ 60 .
Using

22
, calculate
7

Diagram 3

60o
O

(a) the perimeter, in cm,

of the whole diagram
(b) the area, in cm2, of the shaded region.

[6 marks]
8. June 2007

In Diagram 5, ORS is a sector of a circle and PQTU is a semicircle , with centre O respectively. OTS
and OQR are straight lines. The length of arcs PQ, QT and TU are equal .

60o
P

Diagram 5

OS = 2OU and OU = 7 cm .
[ Using

22
, ] , calculate
7

(a) the perimeter, in cm, of the whole diagram

(b) the area, in cm2, of the shaded region.
[6 marks]

Length of Arc & Area of sector

17

9. November 2007 Q6
Diagram 3 shows quadrant OST and semicircle PQR, both with centre O.

T
Q
P
S

60o
O

Diagram 3
R
OS = 21 cm and OP = 14 cm.
[Use

22
, ] , calculate
7
(a) the area, in cm2, of the shaded region.
(b)the perimeter, in cm, of the whole diagram
[6 marks]

10.

Jun 2008, Q6

Diagram 6 shows semicircle ABC, centre O, and a sector of a circle AEF, centre A..
AOFG is a straight line. AO = 14 cm and OF = 7 cm.

30

22
, ] calculate
Using
7

(a) the perimeter, in cm, ofEthe coloured region,

(b) the area, in cm2, of the coloured region.
[6 marks]
Length of Arc & Area of sector

18

11.

Nov 2008, Q7

In diagram 7, PQ and RS are arc of two different circles which have the same centre O. OPR is a
straight line.

21 cm
Q

R
It is given that POQ 36 o
Using

Diagram 7

14 cm

and ROS 60 o .

22
, calculate
7
(a) the perimeter, in cm, of the sector ORS,
(b) the area, in cm2, of the coloured region.
[6 marks]

Length of Arc & Area of sector

19

ANSWERS
Chapter 3 Arc Length and Area of Sector
Exercise 3.1
Exercise A
1
88
Exercise B
1
44
Exercise 3.2
Exercise A
1
11 cm
Exercise B
1
6.982 cm
Exercise 3.3
Exercise A
1
86
Exercise B
1
33.71
Exercise 3.4
Exercise A
1
616

100

4
cm
7

62

6
cm
7

440

110

49.5 cm

5.5.cm

41.89 cm

9.426 cm

2
2

43

1
cm
3

77.60

38

1
cm2
2

314

2
7

cm2
Exercise B
1
346.5 cm2
Exercise 3.5
Exercise A
1
462 cm2
Exercise B
1
70.695 cm2
Exercise 3.6
1
6
84
cm2
7

2
2

2
2

15400 mm2

102

962.5 cm2

2
cm2
3

288.02 cm2
25

1
cm2
7

200

50
cm2
63

Questions According to Examination Format

1a
2a
3a
4a
5a
6a
7a
8a

115.5 cm2
50 cm
171.11 cm2
72 cm
450
66 cm
16
72
cm
21
6
82 cm
7

Length of Arc & Area of sector

1b
2b
3b
4b
5b
6b
7b
8b

47.23 cm
115.5 cm2
109.78 cm
280 cm2
57.75 cm2
269.5 cm2
1
111
cm2
21
16
218
cm2
63

5c

20

55.5 cm

9a
10a

152 cm
1
18 cm
3

981.75 cm2
5
12
cm2
6

10c

53.67 cm

115.5 cm2

192.5 cm2

72 cm

248.5 cm2

89.67 cm

102 cm

423.5 cm2

154 cm2

97 cm

9b
10
b

102

2
cm2
3

SPM Past Years Questions

SPM2003
SPM2004J
SPM2004
SPM2005J

SPM2005
a

64

2
cm
3

SPM 2006J
a
SPM 2006

SPM 2007J

385 cm2

46

1
cm
3

1
cm
3

57

SPM 2007

243.83 cm

SPM 2008J

83

SPM 2008

64

Length of Arc & Area of sector

21

89

5
cm2
6

128

1
3

cm2
104.33

192

1
2

169

2
5