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Arc - GCSE Maths Definition

Reviewed by: Dan Finlay

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In GCSE Maths, an 'arc' refers to a portion of the circumference of a circle. It is the curved line that connects two points on the circle's edge. Arcs are typically measured by their length or the angle they subtend at the centre of the circle, known as the central angle. When calculating the length of an arc, students often use the formula

A r c space L e n g t h space equals space fraction numerator C e n t r a l space A n g l e space ​ space space over denominator 360 to the power of degree end fraction cross times 2 straight pi straight r

where

r is the radius of the circle, and

pi is a mathematical constant approximately equal to 3.14159.

Understanding arcs is essential for solving various problems that involve circle geometry, including those related to sectors and segments of circles.

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Dan Finlay

Reviewer: Dan Finlay

Expertise: Maths Lead

Dan graduated from the University of Oxford with a First class degree in mathematics. As well as teaching maths for over 8 years, Dan has marked a range of exams for Edexcel, tutored students and taught A Level Accounting. Dan has a keen interest in statistics and probability and their real-life applications.

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