Understanding Circle Sectors

A sector is a portion of a circle bounded by two radii and their intercepted arc. Sector area calculations are essential in geometry, physics, engineering, and design projects involving circular segments.

Calculation Formula

The area of a sector is calculated using:

Degrees: Area = (θ/360) × πr²
Radians: Area = (θ/2) × r²

Example Calculation

For a circle with radius 5 units and 60° central angle:

(60/360) × π × 5² ≈ 13.09 square units

Common Applications

Calculating pizza slice areas
Designing circular components in engineering
Determining land areas in surveying
Calculating material requirements for circular segments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use negative values for radius or angle?

No, both radius and angle must be positive values. Negative values will be converted to their absolute values.

What's the difference between degrees and radians?

Degrees divide a circle into 360 units, while radians use 2π units. Radians are often preferred in advanced mathematics.

How precise are the calculations?

Results are accurate to 4 decimal places. For most practical applications, this provides sufficient precision.

Sector Area Calculator

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Sector Area Calculator - Circle Slice Made Easy

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