My teacher said that the central angles of a circle

Micaela Simon

Micaela Simon

Answered question

2022-06-21

My teacher said that the central angles of a circle are equal to the measure of the arc, but I don't understand on how this could possibly work.
Can someone please explain how this is possible?

Answer & Explanation

kejohananws

kejohananws

Beginner2022-06-22Added 19 answers

Here's an example that should hopefully help build intuition for this concept.
Suppose you hear church bells tolling the hour, and so you check your watch to see what hour it is.
The minute-hand (which will be pointing towards the 12) and hour-hand create a central-angle inside the cirlce of the clockface. The numbers 1 through 12 mark off measures of arc around the circle. If central angles didn't equal the measures of the arc, then the angle of the hour-hand wouldn't equal the measure of the hour. That is, clocks simply would not work.
Villaretq0

Villaretq0

Beginner2022-06-23Added 5 answers

This is why mathematicians like to measure angles in units of radians rather than degrees. Once around the circle is 360 degrees but only 2 π radians.
Moreover, your teacher is talking about a circle whose radius is 1. I hope he or she remembered to mention that.

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