How can you halve the area of a circle by an arch on the circumferenc of of the circle?

We have a circle,its origine O and its radius=r,A is point on the circumference of this circle,Find R,such that if the second circle whose radius = R,and origin A is drawn and cross the first circle at B and C,the area of ABOC is 1/2 of the area of the first circle.

Work backwards. You know that for ABOC to be half the circle, BC must be a diameter of circle O.

Now, note that AB = AC = R, so triangles ABO and ACO are similar and angle AOB is a right angle.

Finally, R² = r² + r², so R = √(2r²) = r√2.

2 Responses to “How can you halve the area of a circle by an arch on the circumferenc of of the circle?”

  1. Work backwards. You know that for ABOC to be half the circle, BC must be a diameter of circle O.

    Now, note that AB = AC = R, so triangles ABO and ACO are similar and angle AOB is a right angle.

    Finally, R² = r² + r², so R = √(2r²) = r√2.
    References :

  2. It usually helps to draw a picture:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwread/2647641726/

    Note that ABOC is the area bounded by the arcs AB and AC and line segments BO and OC.
    BO = OC = r

    Since ABOC contains half the first circle, BOC must be a diameter.
    Then AOB is a right triangle with legs BO = AO = r, and R is the hypotenuse.

    By the Pythagorean Theorem,
    R² = r² + r²
    R = √(2r²) = r√2
    References :

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