MHB Find arc length given chord, radius

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To find the arc length of a circle with a radius of 3 feet and a chord length of 3 feet, one can use geometric principles. By drawing the circle and analyzing the triangle formed by the chord and the radii, the angle at the center can be determined. The calculations show that the angle AOE is 30°, leading to a central angle AOB of 60°. Using the formula for arc length, s = rθ, where θ is in radians, the arc length is calculated as π. The final answer for the arc length is π, confirming the initial assertion.
Ragnarok7
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The solution to this question (whose answer is pi) is eluding me:

The radius of a circle is 3 feet. Find the approximate length of an arc of this circle, if the length of the chord of the arc is 3 feet also.
 
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Ragnarok said:
The solution to this question (whose answer is pi) is eluding me:

The radius of a circle is 3 feet. Find the approximate length of an arc of this circle, if the length of the chord of the arc is 3 feet also.

Hi Ragnarok! :)

Did you make a drawing?
If you draw it, that should help to find the answer...
 
Ragnarok said:
The solution to this question (whose answer is pi) is eluding me:

The radius of a circle is 3 feet. Find the approximate length of an arc of this circle, if the length of the chord of the arc is 3 feet also.

For starters, what kind of triangle made by the chord and two radii? What does that tell you about its angles?
 
Thank you! I understand now. I was unsure how much information we were allowed to assume as I can't remember if the book proved triangles have angle sum of 180 degrees yet.
 
Ragnarok said:
Thank you! I understand now. I was unsure how much information we were allowed to assume as I can't remember if the book proved triangles have angle sum of 180 degrees yet.

Just because a book hasn't shown something doesn't make it any less true or provide any reason why you can't use it.
 
True, but I usually try to stay within the internal consistency of the book because if I bring in things from outside it probably means I'm missing out on the intended pedagogical point of the exercise, and possibly missing a simpler, more clever solution.

But I am pretty sure this book presupposes a knowledge of Euclid, so I think the sum of a triangle's angles is fine to assume.
 
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We know radius AO (3) and chord AB.
AE = 1/2 AB
From Pythagorean Theorem OE² = AO² - AE²
OE² = 3² - 1.5²
OE² = 9 - 2.25
OE = 2.5980762114
Segment Height ED = Radius AO - Apothem OE
Segment Height ED = 3 - 2.5980762114
Segment Height ED = 0.4019237886
Angle AOE = arc tangent (AE/OE)
Angle AOE = arc tan (1.5/2.5980762114)
Angle AOE = 29.9999999996 or 30° rounded

There are 2PI radians in a circle and 30° is 1/12 of a circle.
So, 30° = 2PI/12 radians or PI/6 radians.
The answer you said was supposed to be PI. Well I get PI/6.
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EDITED TO ADD:
Angle AOE is only half the central angle, so it should be 60° or PI/3 radians.
 
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Let $$\frac{\theta}{2}=\angle AOE$$ then $$\theta=\angle AOB$$ and the arc length is:

$$s=r\theta=3\left(2\cdot\frac{\pi}{6} \right)=\pi$$
 

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