How do you find the perimeter of a quarter circle?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the method to calculate the perimeter of a quarter circle, which involves understanding that the perimeter consists of both the arc length and the straight edges forming the right angle.
Answer
The perimeter of a quarter circle is given by $P = r \left( \frac{\pi}{2} + 2 \right)$.
Answer for screen readers
The perimeter of a quarter circle is given by:
$$ P = r \left( \frac{\pi}{2} + 2 \right) $$
Steps to Solve
- Identify Components of the Perimeter
The perimeter of a quarter circle consists of the length of the arc plus the lengths of the two straight edges. We need to calculate these components separately.
- Calculate the Arc Length
The formula for the arc length of a circle is given by:
$$ L = r \cdot \theta $$
For a quarter circle, $\theta$ (in radians) is $\frac{\pi}{2}$. Therefore, the arc length can be calculated as:
$$ L = r \cdot \frac{\pi}{2} $$
- Calculate the Length of the Straight Edges
The two straight edges forming the right angle are both equal to the radius $r$. Therefore, the total length of the straight edges is:
$$ \text{Straight Edges Length} = r + r = 2r $$
- Sum Up the Perimeter Components
Now, we add the arc length and the straight edges lengths to find the total perimeter $P$:
$$ P = L + (2r) $$ Substituting for $L$ from step 2, we have:
$$ P = r \cdot \frac{\pi}{2} + 2r $$
- Combine the Terms
We can factor out $r$ from both terms:
$$ P = r \left( \frac{\pi}{2} + 2 \right) $$
The perimeter of a quarter circle is given by:
$$ P = r \left( \frac{\pi}{2} + 2 \right) $$
More Information
The formula shows that the perimeter is dependent on the radius $r$ of the circle. This concept can be used to find the perimeter for any quarter circle by simply substituting in the value of $r$. The presence of $\pi$ indicates the connection to circular geometry, and the two straight segments reflect the nature of the quarter circle as part of a full circle.
Tips
- Confusing Angle Measurements: Make sure to use radians when calculating the arc length. Many might mistakenly use degrees.
- Forgetting to Add Both Straight Edges: Remember that both straight edges contribute to the perimeter and should both be included in the total calculation.
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