GCSE Maths – Geometry and Measures

Arc Length and Area of Sector

Worksheet

This worksheet will show you how to work out different types of arc length
and sector area questions. Each section contains a worked example, a
question with hints and then questions for you to work through on your own.

This work by PMT Education is licensed under https://bit.ly/pmt-cc

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Section A
Worked Example

Calculate the major arc length of PQ to 1 decimal place.

Step 1: Work out numerical values for r and 𝜃𝜃.

𝑟𝑟 = 4 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐

For the major arc length, we use the angle that is greater than 180°.
Angles around a point add up to 360°:

𝜃𝜃 = 360° − 72°
𝜃𝜃 = 288°

Step 2: Substitute the values into the equation.

𝜃𝜃
𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑐𝑐 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿ℎ = 2𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 ×
360
288
𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑐𝑐 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿ℎ = 2𝜋𝜋(4) ×
360

Step 3: Calculate the numerical value of the arc length and round the answer to the required
degree of accuracy.

288
𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑐𝑐 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿ℎ = �2(4) × � 𝜋𝜋
360

𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑐𝑐 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿ℎ = 6.4𝜋𝜋

𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑐𝑐 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿ℎ = 20.106 … 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐

The major arc length PQ is 20.1 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 to 1 decimal place.

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Guided Example

Calculate the minor arc length of PQ to 1 decimal place.

Step 1: Work out numerical values for r and 𝜃𝜃.

r 5.4cm
58

Step 2: Substitute values into the equation.

Are Length Zar x

go
2A15 4 53860

Step 3: Calculate the numerical value of the arc length and round the answer to the required degree
of accuracy.

use calculator
If A
5 466 675 roundup
I 5 5am Idp

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Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

1. Calculate the minor arc length to 1 decimal place

Are Length Zar

8 6.6 0 47
go
2A 6 6 4307
0

SEA 5.414
TLSrounddown
an

5 4am Idp

2. Calculate the major arc length to 1 decimal place.

07188
Are Length Zar
XE
r 4.8cm 0 323

2A 4 8 323
360
GIGA 27.059
575
roundup
27 I am idp

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3. Calculate the minor arc length to 1 decimal place.
0 1801
Are Length 2hr Ego
we needto change 0 to calculatethe
minor are length
0 360 205 155
3.4cm
2A 3 4 135
0
5,307 5 9.197
975 roundup
9 2am clap

4. Calculate the major arc length to 1 decimal place.

7188
Are Length 2hr
Go
we needto change 0 to calculatethe
major are length
0 360 139 221
13.4cm
2503 43
38
10
887 a 51 686855
roundup
51.7cm Idp

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Section B
Worked Example

Calculate the area of the major sector to 1 decimal place.

Step 1: Work out numerical values for r and 𝜃𝜃.

𝑟𝑟 = 4 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐

For the major sector, we use the angle that is greater than 180°.

𝜃𝜃 = 360° − 72°

𝜃𝜃 = 288°

Step 2: Substitute values into the equation.

𝜃𝜃
𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝐿𝐿𝐴𝐴 = 𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 2 ×
360

288
𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝐿𝐿𝐴𝐴 = 𝜋𝜋(4)2 ×
360

Step 3: Calculate the numerical value of the sector area and round the answer to the required
degree of accuracy.

288
𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝐿𝐿𝐴𝐴 = �(16) × � 𝜋𝜋
360

𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝐿𝐿𝐴𝐴 = [12.8]𝜋𝜋

𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝐿𝐿𝐴𝐴 = 40.21 … 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐2

The area of the major arc sector is 40.2 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐2 to 1 decimal place.

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Guided Example

Calculate the area of the minor sector to 1 decimal place.

Step 1: Work out numerical values for r and 𝜃𝜃.

r 5.4cm
58

Step 2: Substitute values into the equation.

Areaofsector Ar
XE
A 542
538

Step 3: Calculate the numerical value of the arc area in terms of 𝜋𝜋.

14 729555
roundup
14.8cm Idp

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Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

5. Calculate the area of the minor arc sector to 1 decimal place.

Areaofsector Ar
Go
6 6.6 0 47
A 6.67 4307
0
17.866 cm
I 5 roundup
17 9 am
Idp

6. Calculate the area of the major arc sector to 1 decimal place.

r 4.8cm 0 323
A 485
3324
64.913
finddown
64 9am Idp

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7. Calculate the area of the minor arc sector to 1 decimal place.

Areaofsector Ar x
We needto change 0 to calculatethe
minor are length
360 205 155
r 3 4cm
A 34 13 0
15 6
36325rounddown
15 6am Idp

8. Calculate the area of the major arc sector to 1 decimal place

Areaofsector Ar x

We needto change 0 to calculatethe

major are length
360 139 221
r 13 4cm
A 0345 10 38
346.297935
round up
346.3cm Idp

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Section C
Worked Example

𝜃𝜃° 3.1cm

Calculate 𝜽𝜽 to 1 decimal place when the minor arc length is 3.5 cm

Step 1: Work out numerical values for r.

𝑟𝑟 = 3.1 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐

For minor arc length we use the angle that is less than 180°- calling this 𝑥𝑥°

Step 2: Substitute values into the equation.

𝜃𝜃
𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑐𝑐 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿ℎ = 2𝜋𝜋𝑟𝑟 ×
360
𝑥𝑥
𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑐𝑐 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿ℎ = 2𝜋𝜋(3.1) ×
360
Step 3: Calculate the numerical value of the arc length in terms of 𝜋𝜋.

𝑥𝑥
𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑐𝑐 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿ℎ = �2(3.1) × � 𝜋𝜋
360
6.2𝑥𝑥
𝐴𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑐𝑐 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿ℎ = 𝜋𝜋
360

Step 4: Equate the arc length with the value in the question

6.2𝑥𝑥
3.5 = 𝜋𝜋
360

Step 5: Solve for the angle 𝑥𝑥

6.2𝜋𝜋
3.5 ÷ ( ) = 𝑥𝑥
360
64.688. . ° = 𝑥𝑥

Step 6: Calculate 𝜃𝜃
Angles around a point equal 360°

360 − 𝑥𝑥 = 𝜃𝜃
360 − 64.688. . = 𝜃𝜃
295.31. . = 𝜃𝜃
𝜃𝜃 = 295.3 to 1.d.p

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Guided Example

10.3cm
𝜃𝜃°

Calculate 𝜽𝜽 to 1 decimal place when the major arc length is 56.3 cm

Step 1: Work out numerical values for r. angle isgreater

r 10.3cm than 1800

Step 2: Substitute values into the equation.

AreLength 2Arx
2A 103 360
Step 3: Calculate the numerical value of the arc length in terms of 𝜋𝜋.

fÉn
Step 4: Equate the arc length with the value in the question

193 3
7 8
x 313.179
Step 5: Solve for 𝑥𝑥

10,3gA 56.3

x
885.179
Step 6: Calculate 𝜃𝜃
Anglesaround a point 360
x 0 360
0 360 313.179
46.82
46.8 Idp

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Now it’s your turn!
If you get stuck, look back at the worked and guided examples.

9. Calculate 𝜃𝜃 to 1 decimal place when the major arc length is 341.3 cm

angle 180
ArcLength 2hr x
35,93 2 1683
68 cm

0A
80
𝜃𝜃° 341 3 am
Ing
287.57
775 roundup
287 6 Idp

10. Calculate 𝜃𝜃 to 1 decimal place when the minor arc length is 34.2 cm

ArcLength
F 14.5cm
2ArxÉ
34.2 2A 145
8
3 A
293 0
34.2 am

𝜃𝜃° y 14.5 cm
x 135 139
It 0 360
360 135.139
224 86
675roundup
g 224 9 Idp

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angle 180
11. Calculate 𝜃𝜃 to 1 decimal place when the major arc length is 47.7 cm

AreLength 2Arx o
F 11.5cm
47 7 201115
8
7 7am
8
𝜃𝜃°
11.5 cm
55 5
3 233
360 237 65
122 34
425rounddown
122 3
Idp

angle 180
12. Calculate 𝜃𝜃 to 1 decimal place when the area of the major sector is 1876 cm2

d
r 32cm
1876 A 327
32 cm 3 0
I
𝜃𝜃° A 1876
g x
12ga
209 93
2 0 360
360 209.93
150 OE 675roundup
150.1 Idp

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