# Circle Geometry - area of segment.

• Mar 18th 2011, 07:04 PM
heatly
Circle Geometry - area of segment.
Iam having trouble getting the correct ans of 7.16m
• Mar 18th 2011, 07:45 PM
Prove It
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...cleproblem.jpg

Here is a picture of the way I would try this problem. I would evaluate the area of the segment, and subtract the area of the triangle. Of course, to do this, you need to know the size of the angle.
• Mar 18th 2011, 07:55 PM
Quacky
With your shorthand notation, I can't even comprehend the question, but why did you use $A=\pi~r^2$ to find the area of A1? A1 isn't a circle!
• Mar 18th 2011, 08:02 PM
heatly
basically the area i have shaded is 7.87m^2.
the vertical height of the shaded area has to be half the height of the radius to the circle.
I need to find the radius of the circle hence then the diameter.
• Mar 18th 2011, 08:19 PM
Quacky
Quote:

Originally Posted by heatly
basically the area i have shaded is 7.87m^2.
the vertical height of the shaded area has to be half the height of the radius to the circle.
I need to find the radius of the circle hence then the diameter.

I understand your method, but the quoted $A=\pi~r^2$ formula only applies to full circles. It cannot be used to find an area of a segment, sector, etc. Or am I misinterpreting your logic? It seems to me that you are assuming that you can use the '0.5R' as a radius and the given area of the segment of 7.87 to find the radius of the whole circle.
• Mar 18th 2011, 08:25 PM
heatly
ok ,yes i was assuming that-oops.
• Mar 19th 2011, 12:59 AM
earboth
Quote:

Originally Posted by heatly
basically the area i have shaded is 7.87m^2.
the vertical height of the shaded area has to be half the height of the radius to the circle.
I need to find the radius of the circle hence then the diameter.

1. You probably found the correct solution already. If not, here are the steps:

a) Calculate the value of the central angle of the sector:

$\cos\left(\frac12 \alpha\right=\dfrac{\frac12 R}{R}=\frac12~\implies~\frac12 \alpha = 60^\circ$. So the complete central angle is 120°.

b) The shaded area is a segment.

$area_{segment}=area_{sector} - area_{triangle}$

$7.87 = \frac13 \cdot \pi R^2 - \frac12 \cdot R \cdot \underbrace{R \cdot \sin(120^\circ)}_{\text{height of triangle}}$

$7.87 = \left(\frac13 \pi - \frac14 \sqrt{3} \right)R^2$

Solve for R.

c) the diameter is 2R.
• Mar 19th 2011, 01:27 AM
heatly
Thanks for that
• Mar 19th 2011, 01:37 AM
CaptainBlack
If you want anymore help with this create a new thread and this time if you must post a PDF with a scan of the question MAKE SURE IT IS THE RIGHT WAY UP

CB