Dave's Math Tables: Circles
circle picture

a circle



Definition: A circle is the locus of all points equidistant from a central point.

Definitions Related to Circles

arc: a curved line that is part of the circumference of a circle
chord: a line segment within a circle that touches 2 points on the circle.
circumference: the distance around the circle.
diameter: the longest distance from one end of a circle to the other.
origin: the center of the circle
pi (pi): A number, 3.141592..., equal to (the circumference) / (the diameter) of any circle.
radius: distance from center of circle to any point on it.
sector: is like a slice of pie (a circle wedge).
tangent of circle: a line perpendicular to the radius that touches ONLY one point on the circle.
diameter = 2 x radius of circle

Circumference of Circle = PI x diameter = 2 PI x radius
    where
PI = PI = 3.141592...

Area of Circle:
    area = PI r^2

Length of a Circular Arc: (with central angle theta)
    if the angle theta is in degrees, then length = theta x (PI/180) x r
    if the angle theta is in radians, then length = r x theta

Area of Circle Sector: (with central angle theta)
    if the angle theta is in degrees, then area = (theta/360)x PI r2
    if the angle theta is in radians, then area = (theta/2)x PI r2

Equation of Circle: (cartesian coordinates)
graph circle
  for a circle with center (j, k) and radius (r):
    (x-j)^2 + (y-k)^2 = r^2

Equation of Circle: (polar coordinates)
    for a circle with center (0, 0):   r(theta) = radius

    for a circle with center with polar coordinates: (c, alpha) and radius a:
      r2 - 2cr cos(theta - alpha) + c2 = a2

Equation of a Circle: (parametric coordinates)
    for a circle with origin (j, k) and radius r:
      x(t) = r cos(t) + j       y(t) = r sin(t) + k

parametric unit circle