Worksheets · Foundation and Higher

Arc lengths and sectors

8 exam-style questions, grades 4 to 7. Worked solutions and the marks are on the last page.

  1. Question 1Calculator · 3 marks

    A round pizza has a diameter of 30 cm. It is cut into 8 equal slices from the centre.

    (a) Work out the area of one slice. Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures. (3)

  2. Question 2Non-calculator · 2 marks

    (a) A sector has radius 12 cm and angle 150∘.150^\circ. Work out the length of its curved edge. Give your answer in terms of π.\pi . (2)

  3. Question 3Non-calculator · 4 marks

    A sector has radius 8 cm and angle 60∘60^\circ.

    (a) Find the exact area of the sector. (2)

    (b) Find the exact perimeter of the sector. (2)

  4. Question 4Non-calculator · 4 marks

    A sector has radius 9 cm and arc length 6π6\pi cm.

    (a) Find its angle. (2)

    (b) Find its area exactly. (2)

  5. Question 5Non-calculator · 4 marks

    The minute hand of a clock is 12 cm long.

    (a) Find the exact distance moved by the tip of the minute hand in 20 minutes. (2)

    (b) Find the exact area swept by the minute hand in 20 minutes. (2)

  6. Question 6Calculator · 3 marks

    A sector has radius 9 cm and angle 140∘140^\circ.

    (a) Work out the perimeter of the sector. Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place. (3)

  7. Question 7Non-calculator · 3 marks

    (a) A sector has radius 9 cm and area 18π18\pi cm². Work out the angle of the sector. (3)

  8. Question 8Non-calculator · 6 marks

    A sector OABOAB of a circle has radius 6 cm. The area of the sector is 15π cm215\pi\text{ cm}^2.

    (a) Work out the angle AOBAOB. (2)

    (b) Work out the perimeter of the sector. Give your answer in the form a+bπa + b\pi. (2)

    (c) The sector is folded so that OAOA meets OBOB, making a cone with no base. Work out the radius of the base of the cone. (2)

Worked solutions and marks

Question 1

(a) 88.4 cm288.4\text{ cm}^2

  1. Radius =30÷2=15= 30 \div 2 = 15 cm.
    π×152=225π=706.85…\pi \times 15^2 = 225\pi = 706.85\ldots
  2. Each slice is a sector with angle 45∘45^\circ, an eighth of the circle.
    706.85…÷8=88.35…706.85\ldots \div 8 = 88.35\ldots
  • P1 The whole area with radius 15.
  • P1 Dividing by 8 (or multiplying by 45360\frac{45}{360}).
  • A1 88.4 cm288.4\text{ cm}^2 (awrt 88.4).

Question 2

(a) 10π10\pi

  1. 150/360×2π×12150/360\times 2\pi \times 12
  2. Arc length is the fraction angle/360 of the full circumference.
  3. Arc length = (150/360) ×\times 2π2\pi ×\times 12 = 10π10\pi cm.
  • P1 Establishing 150/360×2π×12150/360\times 2\pi \times 12 or an equivalent valid method.
  • A1 Correct answer: 10π10\pi

Question 3

(a) 323π\frac{32}{3}\pi

  1. Multiply full-circle area by the fraction of a full turn.
    60360π×82\frac{60}{360}\pi \times 8^{2}
  2. Therefore 323π\frac{32}{3}\pi.
  • M1 Multiply full-circle area by the fraction of a full turn.
  • A1 Correct answer: 323π\frac{32}{3}\pi

(b) 83π+16\frac{8}{3}\pi +16

  1. Calculate the arc and add both straight radii.
    60/360×2π×8+2×860/360\times 2\pi \times 8+2\times 8
  2. Therefore 83π+16\frac{8}{3}\pi +16.
  • M1 Calculate the arc and add both straight radii.
  • A1 Correct answer: 83π+16\frac{8}{3}\pi +16

Question 4

(a) 120120°

  1. Compare the arc with a full circumference and multiply by 360.
    (6)/(2×9)×360(6)/(2\times 9)\times 360
  2. Therefore 120120°.
  • M1 Compare the arc with a full circumference and multiply by 360.
  • A1 Correct answer: 120120°

(b) 27π27\pi

  1. Use the same fraction of the full-circle area.
    120360π×92\frac{120}{360}\pi \times 9^{2}
  2. Therefore 27π27\pi.
  • M1 Use the same fraction of the full-circle area.
  • A1 Correct answer: 27π27\pi

Question 5

(a) 8π8\pi

  1. 20 minutes is one third of a full turn.
    20/60×2π×1220/60\times 2\pi \times 12
  2. Therefore 8π8\pi.
  • M1 20 minutes is one third of a full turn.
  • A1 Correct answer: 8π8\pi

(b) 48π48\pi

  1. Take one third of the area of the circle.
    2060π×122\frac{20}{60}\pi \times 12^{2}
  2. Therefore 48π48\pi.
  • M1 Take one third of the area of the circle.
  • A1 Correct answer: 48π48\pi

Question 6

(a) 40.0 cm

  1. Arc length.
    140360×2π×9=7π=21.99…\tfrac{140}{360} \times 2\pi \times 9 = 7\pi = 21.99\ldots
  2. The perimeter also includes two radii.
    7π+9+9=39.99…7\pi + 9 + 9 = 39.99\ldots
  3. Correct to 1 decimal place: 40.0 cm.
  • P1 The arc length, 140360×2π×9\frac{140}{360} \times 2\pi \times 9.
  • P1 Adding both radii to their arc length.
  • A1 40.0 cm (awrt 40.0).

Question 7

(a) 8080°

  1. 18π/(81π)18\pi /(81\pi )
  2. 360×2/9360\times 2/9
  3. Sector area is (θ/360)πr2.\pi r^{2}.
  4. 18π18\pi = (θ/360) ×\times 81π.81\pi .
  5. θ = 18 ×\times 360 ÷\div 81 = 80∘.80^\circ.
  • P1 Establishing 18π/(81π)18\pi /(81\pi ) or an equivalent valid method.
  • P1 Establishing 360×2/9360\times 2/9 or an equivalent valid method.
  • A1 Correct answer: 8080°

Question 8

(a) 150∘150^\circ

  1. θ360×π×62=15π\tfrac{\theta}{360} \times \pi \times 6^2 = 15\pi
  2. Divide by 36π36\pi.
    θ360=1536=512  ⇒  θ=150\tfrac{\theta}{360} = \tfrac{15}{36} = \tfrac{5}{12} \;\Rightarrow\; \theta = 150
  • P1 Setting up θ360×36π=15π\frac{\theta}{360} \times 36\pi = 15\pi.
  • A1 Correct answer: 150∘150^\circ.

(b) 12+5π12 + 5\pi cm

  1. Arc length.
    150360×2π×6=5π\tfrac{150}{360} \times 2\pi \times 6 = 5\pi
  2. Add the two radii: 12+5π12 + 5\pi.
  • M1 Arc length 150360×12π\frac{150}{360} \times 12\pi.
  • A1 Correct answer: 12+5π12 + 5\pi.

(c) 2.5 cm

  1. The arc becomes the circumference of the cone's base.
  2. 2πR=5π  ⇒  R=2.52\pi R = 5\pi \;\Rightarrow\; R = 2.5
  • P1 Recognising that the arc length equals the base circumference.
  • A1 Correct answer: 2.5 cm.

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Arc lengths and sectors

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Independent practice for Pearson Edexcel GCSE Mathematics (1MA1), not endorsed by Pearson.

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