A segment of a circle is the region bounded by a chord of the circle and its associated arc. It is represented by the symbol ‘⌓’. A semicircle is the biggest segment of a circle.
In the given circle, the segment is enclosed by the chord AB and its associated arc ACB.
Segment of a Circle
Types of Segment in a Circle
There are two types of segments in a circle: minor and major segment. A segment with an intercepted arc less than the semicircle is called a minor segment, while a segment with an intercepted arc more than the semicircle is called a major segment. If nothing specifically is stated, a segment means the minor segment.
Types of Segment in a Circle
Formulas
The formula to find the area of the segment of a circle can either be expressed in terms of degree or in terms of radians. The two formulas for calculating circle’s segment are given below.
How to Find the Area of Segment of a Circle
As we know from our ‘Area of a Sector of a Circle’ an arc and two radii of a circle form a sector. These two radii and the chord of the segment together form a triangle. Thus the area of a segment of a circle can be obtained by subtracting the area of the triangle from the area of the sector.
Thus, mathematically
Area Segment = Area Sector – Area Triangle
Let us use the above logic to derive the formulas to find the segment of a circle both in degree and in radians. As previously discussed, this is the area of the minor segment.
Calculating Area of a Segment in Degrees
Derivation
How to Find Segment of a Circle
In the given figure above,
If ∠AOB = θ is the central angle, then the area of the sector AOBC (A sector AOBC) in degrees is given by the formula:
(A sector AOBC) = θ/360° × πr2
Let the area of ΔAOB be AΔAOB
Then the area of the segment ABC is written using the formula
Area of a Segment of a Circle = Area of the Sector – Area of the Triangle
(A segment ABC) = (A sector AOBC) – AΔAOB
(A segment ABC) = θ/360° × πr2 – AΔAOB …… (1)
Now, to find the area of ΔAOB, we know that the area of the triangle with side lengths a and b and the included angle C is given by ½ absinC
Appling the above formula in ΔAOB with side lengths r and r and the included angle O, we get,
Area of ΔAOB = ½ r2sin θ
Thus, Equation (1) can now be written as,
Area of a Segment of a Circle = θ/360° × πr2 – ½ r2sinC
Factoring by 1/2r2 we get,
Area (A) of a Segment of a Circle = ½ × r2 × (πθ /180 – sin θ)
Thus, if the radius is known and the central angle of the segment is given in degrees, the formula to find the area of a segment is given below.
Segment of a Circle Formula
Let us solve some examples to understand the concept better.
Find the area of a segment of a circle with a central angle of 60 degrees and a radius of 4 cm. Use π = 3.141.
Solution:
As we know, A = ½ × r2 × (πθ/180 – sin θ), here r = 4 cm, θ = 60° = (½) × (4)2 × [(3.141× 60)/180- 0.866] = (½) × 16 × (1.047 – 0.866) = 1.448 cm2
Calculating Area of a Segment in Radians
Derivation
Now let us consider the other variant of this formula.
Area of the sector AOBC (A sector AOBC) when the central angle is measured in radians is given by the formula:
A sector AOBC = (θr2)/2
Now using the same formula for area of ΔAOB = ½ r2sin θ
Then the area of the segment ABC is written using the formula
Area Segment = Area Sector – Area Triangle
(A segment ABC) = (A sector AOBC) – AΔAOB
(A segment ABC) = (θr2)/2 – ½ r2sin θ
Factoring by 1/2r2 we get,
Area (A) of a Segment of a Circle = r2/2 (θ – Sin θ)
Thus, if the radius is known and the central angle of the segment is given in deg, the formula to find the area of a segment is given below.
Area of a Segment of a Circle Formula
Note: To find the area of the major segment, we will subtract the corresponding area of the minor segment from the total area of the circle.
Mathematically,
Area of the major segment = Area of the circle – Area of the minor Segment
Let us solve some examples to understand the concept better.
Find the area of the circular segment if the diameter of a circle is 12 cm and the central angle is 4.59 radians. Express your answer to two decimal places.
Solution:
As we know, Area (A) of a Segment of a Circle in radians = ½ × r2 (θ – Sin θ), here r = d/2 =12/2 = 6 cm, θ = 4.59 radians = ½ × 62 × (4.59 – Sin 4.59) = ½ × 62 × (4.59 – 0.080) = (½ × 62 × 4.51) cm2 = 81.18 cm2
Given that a chord and radius of a circle are each 24 cm. Find the area of the minor circular segment.
Solution:
From the diagram, it is clear that ΔOBC is an equilateral triangle. Hence the central θ is 60° = π/3 radians As we know, Area (A) of a Segment of a Circle in radians = ½ × r2 (θ – Sin θ), here r = 22 cm, θ = π/3 = ½ × (24)2 [(π/3 – Sin (π/3)] = 52.18 cm2
Find the area of the major segment of a circle if the area of the corresponding minor segment is 88 m2 and the radius is 22 m. Use π = 3.141.
Solution:
As we know, Area of the major segment = Area of the circle – Area of the minor Segment = πr2 – 88 = [3.141× (22)2] -88 = 1432.24 m2
How to Find the Perimeter of Segment of a Circle
As we know, the segment of a circle is made of an arc and a chord of a circle. Thus mathematically,
Perimeter (P) of the segment = length of the arc + length of the chord
The formula to find the perimeter of the segment of a circle can either be expressed in terms of degree or in terms of radians. The two formulas for calculating the circle’s segment are given below.
Perimeter of a Segment in Degrees
As we know,
Length of the arc = rθ, and
Length of the chord = 2r sin(θ/2)
Thus,
Perimeter (P) of the segment = πrθ/180 + 2r sin (θ/2), here r = radius, θ is in degrees
Perimeter of a Segment in Radians
As we know,
Length of the arc = πrθ/180, and
Length of the chord = 2r sin(θ/2)
Thus,
Perimeter (P) of the segment = rθ + 2r sin (θ/2), here r = radius,θ is in radians
Find the perimeter of the segment of a circle with a central angle of 30 degrees and a radius of 3 cm. Use π = 3.141.
Solution:
Since the central angle is given in degrees, Perimeter (P) of the segment = πrθ/180 + 2r sin (θ/2), here r = 3cm, θ = 30° = (3.141 × 3 × 30)/180 + (2 × 3) sin (30/2) = 1.5705 + (6 × 0.25) = 3.07 cm
Last modified on August 3rd, 2023
2 thoughts on “Segment of a Circle”
Given that the height and chord length combination of any segment is unique, Is there a formula which links the height of the segment and length of the chord to the area of the segment.
There is no such direct formula, however, you can use the below given derived formula for your calculation:
Area of segment = ${\left( \dfrac{l^{2}-4h^{2}}{8hl}\right) ^{2}\cdot 2\tan ^{-1}\left( \dfrac{2h}{l}\right) -\dfrac{l^{2}-4h^{2}}{16h}}$, where ‘h’ is the height of the segment and ‘l’ is the length of the chord.
Given that a chord and radius of a circle are each 24 cm. Find the area of the minor circular segment.
Given that the height and chord length combination of any segment is unique, Is there a formula which links the height of the segment and length of the chord to the area of the segment.
There is no such direct formula, however, you can use the below given derived formula for your calculation:
Area of segment = ${\left( \dfrac{l^{2}-4h^{2}}{8hl}\right) ^{2}\cdot 2\tan ^{-1}\left( \dfrac{2h}{l}\right) -\dfrac{l^{2}-4h^{2}}{16h}}$, where ‘h’ is the height of the segment and ‘l’ is the length of the chord.