11.

1 Circumference and Arc Length

Essential Question How can you find the length of a circular arc?

Finding the Length of a Circular Arc

Work with a partner. Find the length of each red circular arc.
a. entire circle b. one-fourth of a circle
y y
5 5
C
3 3

1 1
A A B
−5 −3 −1 1 3 5x −5 −3 −1 1 3 5x

−3 −3

−5 −5

c. one-third of a circle d. five-eighths of a circle

y y
C
4 4

2 2

A B A B
−4 −2 2 4 x −4 −2 2 4 x
−2 −2
C
−4 −4

Using Arc Length

Work with a partner. The rider is attempting to stop with
the front tire of the motorcycle in the painted rectangular
box for a skills test. The front tire makes exactly
one-half additional revolution before stopping.
LOOKING FOR The diameter of the tire is 25 inches. Is the
REGULARITY front tire still in contact with the
IN REPEATED painted box? Explain.
REASONING
To be proficient in math,
you need to notice if 3 ft
calculations are repeated
and look both for general
methods and for shortcuts. Communicate Your Answer
3. How can you find the length of a circular arc?
4. A motorcycle tire has a diameter of 24 inches. Approximately how many inches
does the motorcycle travel when its front tire makes three-fourths of a revolution?

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 11.1 Lesson What You Will Learn
Use the formula for circumference.
Use arc lengths to find measures.
Core Vocabul
Vocabulary
larry Solve real-life problems.
circumference, p. 594 Measure angles in radians.
arc length, p. 595
radian, p. 597
Using the Formula for Circumference
Previous
The circumference of a circle is the distance around the circle. Consider a regular
circle
polygon inscribed in a circle. As the number of sides increases, the polygon
diameter
approximates the circle and the ratio of the perimeter of the polygon to the diameter
radius
of the circle approaches π ≈ 3.14159. . ..

For all circles, the ratio of the circumference C to the diameter d is the same. This
C
ratio is — = π. Solving for C yields the formula for the circumference of a circle,
d
C = πd. Because d = 2r, you can also write the formula as C = π(2r) = 2πr.

Core Concept
Circumference of a Circle
r
The circumference C of a circle is C = πd
or C = 2πr, where d is the diameter of the d
circle and r is the radius of the circle. C
C = π d = 2π r

Using the Formula for Circumference

Find each indicated measure.

ATTENDING TO
PRECISION a. circumference of a circle with a radius of 9 centimeters
You have sometimes used b. radius of a circle with a circumference of 26 meters
3.14 to approximate the
value of π. Throughout this SOLUTION
chapter, you should use the a. C = 2πr b. C = 2πr
π key on a calculator, then
round to the hundredths ⋅ ⋅
=2 π 9 26 = 2πr
place unless instructed = 18π 26
otherwise. —=r
2π
≈ 56.55
4.14 ≈ r
The circumference is about
56.55 centimeters. The radius is about 4.14 meters.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

1. Find the circumference of a circle with a diameter of 5 inches.

2. Find the diameter of a circle with a circumference of 17 feet.

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 Using Arc Lengths to Find Measures
An arc length is a portion of the circumference of a circle. You can use the measure of
the arc (in degrees) to find its length (in linear units).

Core Concept
Arc Length
In a circle, the ratio of the length of a given arc to the A
circumference is equal to the ratio of the measure of the
arc to 360°.
P
Arc length of  m
r
AB AB B
—— = —, or
2πr 360°

=—m
Arc length of AB
AB
360°
2πr ⋅

Using Arc Lengths to Find Measures

Find each indicated measure.

a. arc length of 
AB b. circumference of ⊙Z c. m
RS

A X 15.28 m S
8 cm
60° 4.19 in. T
P Z
B 40° Y R
44 m

SOLUTION
a. Arc length of  ⋅
60°
AB = — 2π(8)
360°
≈ 8.38 cm
Arc length of 
XY m
XY Arc length of 
RS m
RS
b. —— = — c. —— = —
C 360° 2πr 360°
4.19 40° 44 m
RS
—=— —=—
C 360° 2π(15.28) 360°

360° — = m
⋅
4.19 1 44
—=— RS
C 9 2π(15.28)
37.71 in. = C 165° ≈ m
RS

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

Find the indicated measure.

3. arc length of 
PQ 4. circumference of ⊙N 5. radius of ⊙G

61.26 m
Q E
9 yd 270° G
75° 150°
R N
S
P L M 10.5 ft F

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 Solving Real-Life Problems
Using Circumference to Find Distance Traveled

The dimensions of a car tire are shown. To the

nearest foot, how far does the tire travel when 5.5 in.
it makes 15 revolutions?

SOLUTION 15 in.

Step 1 Find the diameter of the tire.

d = 15 + 2(5.5) = 26 in.
5.5 in.
Step 2 Find the circumference of the tire.
⋅
C = π d = π 26 = 26π in.
Step 3 Find the distance the tire travels in 15 revolutions. In one revolution, the tire
travels a distance equal to its circumference. In 15 revolutions, the tire travels
a distance equal to 15 times its circumference.
COMMON ERROR
Always pay attention to
Distance
traveled
=
Number of
revolutions ⋅ Circumference
units. In Example 3, you
need to convert units to
get a correct answer.
⋅
= 15 26π ≈ 1225.2 in.
Step 4 Use unit analysis. Change 1225.2 inches to feet.

⋅1 ft
1225.2 in. — = 102.1 ft
12 in.
The tire travels approximately 102 feet.

Using Arc Length to Find Distances

The curves at the ends of the track shown are 180° arcs
of circles. The radius of the arc for a runner on the 44.02 m
red path shown is 36.8 meters. About how far does
this runner travel to go once around the track? Round
36.8 m
to the nearest tenth of a meter.

SOLUTION 84.39 m

The path of the runner on the red path is made of two straight sections and two
semicircles. To find the total distance, find the sum of the lengths of each part.

Distance = ⋅
2 Length of each
straight section
+ ⋅
2 Length of
each semicircle

(⋅ ⋅
= 2(84.39) + 2 —12 2π 36.8 )
≈ 400.0

The runner on the red path travels about 400.0 meters.

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

6. A car tire has a diameter of 28 inches. How many revolutions does the tire make
while traveling 500 feet?
7. In Example 4, the radius of the arc for a runner on the blue path is 44.02 meters,
as shown in the diagram. About how far does this runner travel to go once around
the track? Round to the nearest tenth of a meter.

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 Measuring Angles in Radians
Recall that in a circle, the ratio of the length of a given arc A
to the circumference is equal to the ratio of the measure of
the arc to 360°. To see why, consider the diagram. C
r
A circle of radius 1 has circumference 2π, so the arc
 is — m
length of CD
CD
360° ⋅ 2π. 1 D

B
Recall that all circles are similar and corresponding lengths
of similar figures are proportional. Because m AB = m CD ,
 
AB and CD are corresponding arcs. So, you can write the following proportion.
Arc length of 
AB r
—— = —
Arc length of 
CD 1

Arc length of 
AB = r ⋅ Arc length of 
CD

 m
⋅
CD
Arc length of AB = r — 2π
360° ⋅
This form of the equation shows that the arc length associated with a central angle
m
CD
is proportional to the radius of the circle. The constant of proportionality, — 2π,
360° ⋅
is defined to be the radian measure of the central angle associated with the arc.
In a circle of radius 1, the radian measure of a given central angle can be thought of
as the length of the arc associated with the angle. The radian measure of a complete
circle (360°) is exactly 2π radians, because the circumference of a circle of radius 1
is exactly 2π. You can use this fact to convert from degree measure to radian measure
and vice versa.

Core Concept
Converting between Degrees and Radians
Degrees to radians Radians to degrees
Multiply degree measure by Multiply radian measure by
2π radians π radians 360° 180°
—, or —. —, or —.
360° 180° 2π radians π radians

Converting between Degree and Radian Measure

3π
a. Convert 45° to radians. b. Convert — radians to degrees.
2

SOLUTION
π radians π 3π
⋅
a. 45° — = — radian
180° 4 ⋅
180°
b. — radians — = 270°
2 π radians
π 3π
So, 45° = — radian. So, — radians = 270°.
4 2

Monitoring Progress Help in English and Spanish at BigIdeasMath.com

4π
8. Convert 15° to radians. 9. Convert — radians to degrees.
3

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 11.1 Exercises Dynamic Solutions available at BigIdeasMath.com

Vocabulary and Core Concept Check

1. COMPLETE THE SENTENCE The circumference of a circle with diameter d is C = ______.

2. WRITING Describe the difference between an arc measure and an arc length.

Monitoring Progress and Modeling with Mathematics

In Exercises 3–10, find the indicated measure. 13. PROBLEM SOLVING A measuring wheel is
(See Examples 1 and 2.) used to calculate the length of a path. The
diameter of the wheel is 8 inches.
3. circumference of a circle with a radius of 6 inches
The wheel makes 87 complete
revolutions along the length
4. diameter of a circle with a circumference of 63 feet
of the path. To the nearest
5. radius of a circle with a circumference of 28π foot, how long is the
path? (See Example 3.)
6. exact circumference of a circle with a diameter of
5 inches

7. arc length of 
AB 8. m
DE 14. PROBLEM SOLVING You ride your bicycle 40 meters.
How many complete revolutions does the front
C wheel make?
A D
P Q
45° 8.73 in.
8 ft
10 in.
B E

9. circumference of ⊙C 10. radius of ⊙R

L
F
C 260° R
7.5 m 76° 38.95 cm

G M

32.5 cm
11. ERROR ANALYSIS Describe and correct the error in
finding the circumference of ⊙C. In Exercises 15–18, find the perimeter of the shaded

✗
region. (See Example 4.)
C = 2πr
9 in. 15.
= 2π(9)
C
=18π in. 6

12. ERROR ANALYSIS Describe and correct the error in 13

finding the length of 
GH .
16.

✗ Arc length of 
G 6 3
GH

= mGH ⋅ 2πr
75°
C 5 cm
H
⋅
= 75 2π(5) 3 6
= 750π cm

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 17. 2 18. In Exercises 25 and 26, find the circumference of the
circle with the given equation. Write the circumference
90° 90° 5 5
in terms of π.
6 25. x2 + y2 = 16
120°
90° 90°
5 26. (x + 2)2 + (y − 3)2 = 9
6
27. USING STRUCTURE A semicircle has endpoints
In Exercises 19–22, convert the angle measure. (−2, 5) and (2, 8). Find the arc length of the
(See Example 5.) semicircle.
19. Convert 70° to radians.  is an arc on a circle with radius r.
28. REASONING EF
Let x° be the measure of EF . Describe the effect on
20. Convert 300° to radians. the length of 
EF if you (a) double the radius of the
circle, and (b) double the measure of 
EF .
11π
21. Convert — radians to degrees.
12
29. MAKING AN ARGUMENT Your friend claims that it is
π possible for two arcs with the same measure to have
22. Convert — radian to degrees. different arc lengths. Is your friend correct? Explain
8
your reasoning.
23. PROBLEM SOLVING The London Eye is a Ferris
wheel in London, England, that travels at a speed of 30. PROBLEM SOLVING Over 2000 years ago, the Greek
0.26 meter per second. How many minutes does it scholar Eratosthenes estimated Earth’s circumference
take the London Eye to complete one full revolution? by assuming that the Sun’s rays were parallel. He
chose a day when the Sun shone straight down into
a well in the city of Syene. At noon, he measured the
angle the Sun’s rays made with a vertical stick in the
city of Alexandria. Eratosthenes assumed that the
distance from Syene to Alexandria was equal to about
67.5 m 575 miles. Explain how Eratosthenes was able to use
this information to estimate Earth’s circumference.
Then estimate Earth’s circumference.
t
ligh
sun 1
m∠2 = 7.2°
stick
Alexandria t
ligh
sun 2

well
24. PROBLEM SOLVING You are planning to plant a
Syene
circular garden adjacent to one of the corners of a 1
building, as shown. You can use up to 38 feet of fence center
of Earth
to make a border around the garden. What radius
Not drawn to scale
(in feet) can the garden have? Choose all that apply.
Explain your reasoning.
31. ANALYZING RELATIONSHIPS In ⊙C, the ratio of the
PQ to the length of 
length of  RS is 2 to 1. What is the
ratio of m∠PCQ to m∠RCS?

A 4 to 1
○ B 2 to 1
○
C 1 to 4
○ D 1 to 2
○
32. ANALYZING RELATIONSHIPS A 45° arc in ⊙C and a
30° arc in ⊙P have the same length. What is the ratio
A 7
○ B 8
○ C 9
○ D 10
○ of the radius r1 of ⊙C to the radius r2 of ⊙P? Explain
your reasoning.

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 33. PROBLEM SOLVING How many revolutions does the 38. MODELING WITH MATHEMATICS What is the
smaller gear complete during a single revolution of measure (in radians) of the angle formed by the hands
the larger gear? of a clock at each time? Explain your reasoning.
a. 1:30 p.m. b. 3:15 p.m.
3
7 39. MATHEMATICAL CONNECTIONS The sum of the
circumferences of circles A, B, and C is 63π. Find AC.

x B
3x
5x
34. USING STRUCTURE Find the circumference of each
circle. A
C
a. a circle circumscribed about a right triangle whose
legs are 12 inches and 16 inches long
b. a circle circumscribed about a square with a side
length of 6 centimeters
c. a circle inscribed in an equilateral triangle with a
side length of 9 inches 40. THOUGHT PROVOKING Is π a rational number?
355
Compare the rational number — to π. Find a
35. REWRITING A FORMULA Write a formula in terms of 113
the measure θ (theta) of the central angle (in radians) different rational number that is even closer to π.
that can be used to find the length of an arc of a circle.
Then use this formula to find the length of an arc of a 41. PROOF The circles in the diagram are concentric
circle with a radius of 4 inches and a central angle of — ≅ GH
and FG —. Prove that 
JK and 
NG have the
3π
— radians. same length.
4
M
36. HOW DO YOU SEE IT? L N
Compare the circumference
of ⊙P to the length of 
F
DE . G
D E
Explain your reasoning. C P K H
J

—
42. REPEATED REASONING AB is divided into four
37. MAKING AN ARGUMENT In the diagram, the measure congruent segments, and semicircles with radius r
of the red shaded angle is 30°. The arc length a is 2. are drawn.
Your classmate claims that it is possible to find the
circumference of the blue circle without finding the
radius of either circle. Is your classmate correct?
Explain your reasoning. A r B

a. What is the sum of the four arc lengths?

2r
b. What would the sum of the arc lengths be if
r
a
— was divided into 8 congruent segments?
AB
16 congruent segments? n congruent segments?
Explain your reasoning.

Maintaining Mathematical Proficiency Reviewing what you learned in previous grades and lessons

Find the area of the polygon with the given vertices. (Section 1.4)
43. X(2, 4), Y(8, −1), Z(2, −1) 44. L(−3, 1), M(4, 1), N(4, −5), P(−3, −5)

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