Frequently asked questions
How is the area of a sector calculated?
Area is calculated as (central angle/360) × π × radius². For example, a sector with a 10cm radius and 90° angle has an area of (90/360) × π × 10² ≈ 78.5 cm².
What's the difference between arc length and chord length?
Arc length is the length of the curved edge of the sector (a portion of the circle's circumference), while chord length is the straight-line distance between the two endpoints of that arc. The larger the central angle, the bigger the gap between the two values.
How is the perimeter calculated?
The perimeter of a sector equals the arc length plus twice the radius (arc length + 2r) — it's the total length around the curved edge and the two straight radius edges.
Can I enter the central angle in radians?
This calculator expects the central angle in degrees. If you have a value in radians, convert it first using (radians × 180/π) before entering it.
What is a sector calculator useful for?
It's handy for comparing pizza slice sizes, planning circular staircases or sector-shaped tiles, designing portions of round windows, and any real-life or construction situation where you need quick area and length figures.