How to find the angle of a sector
Help Questions
ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Reasoning › How to find the angle of a sector
 is inscribed in a circle. 
 is a semicircle. 
.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
(a) is the greater quantity
(b) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
Explanation
The figure referenced is below:

 is a semicircle, so 
 is one as well; as a semicircle, its measure is 
. The inscribed angle that intercepts this semicircle, 
, is a right angle, of measure 
. 
, and the sum of the measures of the interior angles of a triangle is 
, so
 has greater measure than 
, so the minor arc intercepted by 
, which is 
, has greater measure than that intercepted by 
, which is 
. It follows that the major arc corresponding to the latter, which is 
, has greater measure than that corresponding to the former, which is 
.

The arc-length for the shaded sector is . What is the value of 
, rounded to the nearest hundredth?
˚
˚
˚
˚
˚
Explanation
Remember that the angle for a sector or arc is found as a percentage of the total  degrees of the circle. The proportion of 
 to 
 is the same as 
 to the total circumference of the circle.
The circumference of a circle is found by:
For our data, this means:
Now we can solve for  using the proportions:
Cross multiply:
Divide both sides by :
Therefore,  is 
˚.

In the above diagram, radius .
Calculate the length of .
Explanation
Inscribed , which measures 
, intercepts an arc with twice its measure. That arc is 
, which consequently has measure
.
This makes  an arc which comprises
of the circle.
The circumference of a circle is  multiplied by its radius, so
.
The length of  is 
 of this, or 
.

Refer to the above figure, Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The area of 
(b) The area of the orange semicircle
(b) is the greater quantity
(a) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
Explanation
 has angles of degree measure 30 and 60; the third angle must measure 90 degrees, making 
 a right triangle.
For the sake of simplicity, let ; the reasoning is independent of the actual length. The smaller leg of a 30-60-90 triangle has length equal to 
 times that of the longer leg; this is about
The area of a right triangle is half the product of its legs, so
Also, if , then the orange semicircle has diameter 1 and radius 
. Its area can be found by substituting 
 in the formula:
The orange semicircle has a greater area than 

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale
Refer to the above diagram. is a semicircle. Evaluate 
.
Explanation
An inscribed angle of a circle that intercepts a semicircle is a right angle; therefore, , which intercepts the semicircle 
, is such an angle. Consequently,
Inscribed  intercepts an arc with twice its angle measure; this arc is 
, so
.

Figure NOT drawn to scale
In the above diagram, .
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
(a) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
(b) is the greater quantity
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
Explanation
 is an inscribed angle, so its degree measure is half that of the arc it intercepts, 
:
.
 and 
 are acute angles of right triangle 
. They are therefore complimentary - that is, their degree measures total 
. Consequently,
.
A giant clock has a minute hand four feet long. Since noon, the tip of the minute hand has traveled  feet. What time is it now?
Explanation
The circumference of the path traveled by the tip of the minute hand over the course of one hour is:
 feet.
Since the tip of the minute hand has traveled  feet since noon, the minute hand has made
 revolutions. Therefore, 
 hours have elapsed since noon, making the time 1:15 PM.

Figure NOT drawn to scale
Refer to the above diagram. is a semicircle. Evaluate 
 given 
.
Explanation
An inscribed angle of a circle that intercepts a semicircle is a right angle; therefore, , which intercepts the semicircle 
, is such an angle. Consequently, 
 is a right triangle, and 
 and 
 are complementary angles. Therefore,
Inscribed  intercepts an arc with twice its angle measure; this arc is 
, so
.
The major arc corresponding to this minor arc, , has measure

Figure NOT drawn to scale.
Refer to the above diagram.  is the arithmetic mean of 
 and 
.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
(a) and (b) are equal
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(a) is the greater quantity
(b) is the greater quantity
Explanation
 is the arithmetic mean of 
 and 
, so
By arc addition, this becomes
Also, , or, equivalently,
, so
Solving for :
Also,
If two tangents are drawn to a circle, the measure of the angle they form is half the difference of the measures of the arcs they intercept, so

In the above figure,  is the center of the circle, and 
. Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
(a) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
(b) is the greater quantity
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
Explanation
Construct . The new figure is below:

, so 
. It follows that their respective central angles have measures
and
.
Also, since  and 
 - 
 being a semicircle - by the Arc Addition Principle, 
. 
, an inscribed angle which intercepts this arc, has half this measure, which is 
. The other angle of 
, which is 
, also measures 
, so 
 is equilateral.
, since all radii are congruent;
 by reflexivity;
By the Side-Angle-Side Inequality Theorem (or Hinge Theorem), it follows that . Since 
 is equilateral, 
, and since all radii are congruent, 
. Substituting, it follows that 
.