MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

Chapter 2:

Radian Measure
&
Units of
Measurement

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

Radian Measure

Specific Outcomes: At the end of this section the student should be able to:
 Convert angles between radians and degrees and vice versa and give the
answer correct to a specified number of decimal places or significant figures.
The student should be able to do this conversion manually and with the help of
a calculator.
 Write the degree sign when appropriate and know when not to write it.
 Write angles in radian measure in terms of  .
 Write the trigonometric functions of an angle given in radians or degrees by
using a pocket calculator correctly and appropriately.
 Write all special angles in degrees and radians.
 Compute arc length, radius and central angle of sectors of circles.
 Calculate areas of sectors and segments of circles.
 Solve applied problems involving arc length and radian measure.
 Calculate linear velocity and angular velocity.

Assessment criteria:
 Angles are converted correctly from degrees to radians and vice versa.
 Trigonometric functions of given angles are determined correctly.
 Arc lengths, radii, central angles and areas of segments and sectors are reported
correctly.
 Areas of sectors and segments are calculated correctly.
 Angular and linear velocities are reported correctly in appropriate units.
 Linear and Angular velocity are calculated correctly and reported in the
appropriate units.

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

2.1 Definition

A radian (abbreviated rad) is a unit of measurement of angles. One radian is the angle
between two radii that cut off on the circumference of a circle an arc equal in length
to the radius.
Y

r r

O X
r

2.2 Formula for an angle measured in radians:

s

r
If s  r , then the magnitude (size) of the angle is one radian.

2.3 Converting between degrees and radians:

Since the circumference of a circle of radius r is C  2 r and the circle contains 360

degrees, 2 radians is equivalent to 360  .

Method: write the given amount as a fraction of the whole and multiply by the units
required.
Example 1: Convert 60  to radians, correct to 2 decimal places.
60
Solution 1:  2  1,05 or 1,05 radians or
360
60 
Solution 2:  2 
360 3

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

Example 2: Convert 135  to radians, correct to 2 decimal places.

135
Solution 1:  2  2,36 or
360
135 3
Solution 2:  2 
360 4
Example 3: Convert 2,7 radians to degrees, correct to 1 decimal place.
2,7
Solution:  360   154,7 
2

Example 4: Convert radians to degrees, correct to 1 decimal place.
4

Solution: 4  360   1  360   45 
2 8
Example 5: Convert 150  to radians. Give answer correct to 3 decimals.
150  5
Solution 
 2  radians or 2,618 rads
360 6
Example 6: Convert 350  to radians. Give answer correct to 2 decimals.
350 
Solution  2  6,11 rads
360 
Example 7: Convert 1,5 radians to degrees. Give answer correct to 1 decimal.
1,5
Solution  360   85,9 
2
4
Example 8: Convert radians to degrees. Give answer correct to 1 decimal.
5
4
Solution
5  360   4  360 
2 10
2
  360   144 
5
Exercise 2.1
1. Convert the following angles to radians; use 1 decimal in your answers.

a) 155° b) 66°
c) 78° d) 57°
e) 286° f) 365°
g) 172° h) 196°
i) 126° j) 235°

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

2. Convert the following angles to radians; answer in terms of  .

a) 30° b) 150°
c) 195° d) 240°
e) 270° f) 300°
g) 75° h) 120°
i) 165° j) 315°
3. Convert the following angles to degrees. Round all answers to the nearest integer.

a) 1,8 radians b) 5 radians

c) 3 radians d) 2 radians
e) 1 radian f) 2,5 radians
g) 6 radians h) 4,5 radians
i) 3,7 radians j) 9 radians
4. Express each angle in degree measure. Round all answers to the nearest integer.
 5
a) radians b) radians
3 9
2 3
c) radians d) radians
3 4
7 6
e) radians f) radians
3 5
2 3
g) radians h) radians
5 2
11 5
i) radians j) radians
6 12
2.4 Negative angles
Angles that are measured relative to the positive direction of the X-axis are positive if
they are measured in the counter-clockwise direction and negative if they are
measured in the clockwise direction.
Two angles which, when placed in standard position, have coincident (read: “the
same”) terminal sides are called co terminal angles.
Example 1: 60  and -300  are co terminal angles
Example 2: -120  and 240  are co terminal angles.
Example 3: 200  and -160  are co terminal angles.
Example 4: 700  and 340  and -20  are co terminal angles.

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

Exercise 2.2
Determine at least one other angle that is co terminal with the given angle:
1. 20  2. 500 
3. -50  4. -400 
5. 200  6. -200 
7. 800  8. -800 
9. 155  10. -140 

2.5 Arc length

Use the formula s  r .

Note: 1. The variables s and r may be expressed in any convenient unit length
but they have to be expressed in the same unit.
2. The angle has to be in radians. If the angle is given in degrees, convert
it to radians before using the formula.
Example 1 If s  9 cm and r  3 cm , determine the angle  .
s 9 cm
Solution  
r 3 cm
 3 radians
Example 2 If r  6 cm and   2 rad , determine the arc length s.
Solution s  r  6 cm  2
 12 cm
Example 3 If s  9 cm and   3 , determine the radius r.
s 6 cm
Solution r 
 3 rad
6 cm
  2 cm
3
Example 4 If s  27 cm and   60  , determine the radius r, correct to 2
decimal places.
Solution First convert the angle to radians:
60
  2 = 1,05 radians (correct to 2 decimal places).
360

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

Note: Save this value in the memory of your calculator! You will need it in the
next step.
s 27 cm
r  (Press memory recall to divide by 1,047197551,
 1,05 rad
which is more correct than dividing by 1,05)
 25,78 cm
Example 5 If s  12 cm and r  30 mm , determine the angle  .
Solution Convert r to cm.
r  30 mm  3 cm
s 12 cm
   4 radians
r 3 cm

Exercise 2.3
1. Calculate the unknown variable, using the formula s  r . Give answers correct
to one decimal place.
a) s  18 cm, r  9,2 cm b) s  14 cm, r  7,3 cm
c) s  8 cm,   3 radians d) s  12 cm,   1,5 radians

e) s  8 cm,   67  f) s  12 cm,   123 

g) r  10 cm,   2,5 radians h) r  15 cm,   5,5 radians
i) s  18 cm, r  102 mm j) s  14 cm, r  96 mm

2. Use one decimal place in the following answers:

a) A pendulum 35 cm long swings through an arc with a central angle of 15  .
Calculate the length of the arc through which the pendulum swings.
b) Suppose that a pendulum of length 25 cm swings through an arc length of 15 cm.
Determine through how many degrees does the pendulum swing.
Hint: first calculate the angle in radians, then convert the answer to degrees.
c) On a flywheel with a radius of 70 mm , how long is an arc subtended by a central
angle of 2,3 radians?
d) The end of a 40 cm pendulum describes an arc of 5 cm. Through what angle does
the pendulum swing?

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

e) A reversed curve on a railroad track consists of two circular arcs. The central
angle of one measures 20  with radius 2500 m and the other measures 25  with
radius 3000 m . Find the total length of the two arcs.
f) A railroad curve is to be laid out on a circle. What radius should be used if the
track is to change direction by 25  in a distance of 40 meters?

3. In the following table, s is the length of the arc subtended by a central angle  in
a circle of radius r. Fill in the missing values, correct to 2 decimal places.

r  s
1. 4,83 cm 2
5
2. 11,5 cm 1,36
3. 284 cm 46  24
4. 2,87 m 1,55
5. 64,8 cm 38,5 
6. 28,3 m 32,5 m
7. 263 mm 58,2 cm
8. 21,5 cm 0,182 m
9. 3,87 m 15,8 m
10  88,1 cm
12
11. 77,2  1,11cm
12. 2,08 rad 3,84 m
13. 12  55 28,2 m
14. 5 125 mm
6

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

2.6 Areas of sectors and Segments

2.6.1 Area of a circle sector

A minor circle sector

O
A major circle sector

1 2
The area of a circle sector is given by A  r  , where r is the radius of the circle
2
and  is measured in radians.

Example

Find the area of the sector of the circle with radius equal to 24 cm and a
central angle of 30  . Give answer correct to 1 decimal.

Solution

Convert the angle to radians: 30   rads
6
1 
Area  (24) 2 ( )
2 6
 150,8 cm 2

Exercise 2.4
1. Calculate the areas of the following circle sectors. Answer correct to three
significant figures.
a) a circle sector with diameter equal to 3,5 m and central angle of 30  .
b) a circle sector with radius equal to 7,8 m and central angle of 30  .

c) a circle sector with diameter equal to 5,2 m and central angle of rads .
6
d) a circle sector with radius equal to 1,4 m and central angle of 50  .

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

2. Determine the area of a sector with the following dimensions correct to 2 decimal
places:
a) r  34 mm   115  b) d  41 cm s  43 mm

c) s  17,5 mm   84  24 d) d  20 cm   90 
e) r  24 m s  1000 cm f) s  105 mm   12 12
g) d  105 m   118  54 h) r  81 cm s  70 mm

i) s  24,1cm   74  30 j) s  100 cm   61 27

2.6.2 Area of a circle segment

1 2
A r (  sin  )
2

Circle
segment


O

Exercise 2.5
1. Calculate the area of the segment:

Circle
segment
r  15 cm

60 
O

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

2. Calculate the area of the segment:

r  45 cm

70 
O

3. Find the area of the segment shaded below:

(1; 3)

y=x

2.8 Units of Measurement

2.8.1 Significant Figures (sf)

The digits in a measurement that a scientist reads and estimates on a scale are called
significant figures. These include all the certain digits and one additional doubtful
digit based on the observer’s estimate of a fractional part of the smallest scale
subdivision.
Example: Let the length of an object be measured with a ruler whose smallest
subdivision is 1 cm. Since the end of the object falls between the 10- and 11-cm
marks, we are sure of the first two digits ( 1 and 0) but are doubtful of the third digit.

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

A reasonable estimate of the object’s end position might be 0,6 of the distance
between the 10- and 11-cm marks. Therefore, the length of the object to three
significant figures is 10,6 cm. The third digit might well be any number between 5
and 7, but not even the most experienced observer would dare to estimate that fraction
to 0,01 cm. Thus, the length of the object should be recorded to three significant
figures as 10,6 cm. It is also necessary to indicate the reading uncertainty of the scale.
The recorded value is then 10,6 ±0,1 cm.

2.8.2 Reading significant figures:

The first significant figure (sf) in a measurement is the first digit other than zero,
counting from left to right. In the measurement 29,85 ml, the first sf is 2.

Zeros to the left of the first nonzero digit are not significant. In the measurement
0,002335 g, the zeros to the left of 2 are not significant.

Zeros that occur between two significant digits are significant since they are part of
the measurement. In the measurement 30,0809 cm, the zeros are significant figures
because they occur between the digits 3 and 9. There are thus six sf's in this
measurement.

Final zeros in measurements containing decimal fractions are significant. Thus in

the measurement 7,0 sec the final zero is significant; it indicates that the measurement
was precise to one-tenth of a second and has two significant figures. The
measurement 7,00 sec is more precise and has three significant figures.

The number of significant figures is independent of the measurement unit. The

measurement in the example could be expressed as 10,6 cm, 106 mm, 0,106 m, or
0,000106 km. In each case the number of significant figures is 3.

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Exercise 2.6
1. Round off the following numbers as indicated:
a) 14,5089 to 4 sf. b) 4,5079 to 3 sf
c) 4,5089 to 3 decimals. d) 0,00254 to 2 sf
e) 16,7 to 0 decimals. f) 0,00254 to 3 decimals.
g) 16,7 to 2 sf h) 0,00254 to 4 sf
i) 16,7 to 4 sf j) 7 to 2 sf
k) 16,7 to 1 sf l) 7,698 to 2 decimals.
m) 2,69 x 10 to 2 sf n) 6,0258 x 10 23 to 3 sf
o) 145 to 2 sf p) 17 to 4 sf
q) 17 to 1 sf r) 172 to 4 sf
s) 172 to 2 sf t) 172 to 1 sf
2. How many significant figures are there in the following measured quantities?
a) 48,20 cm b) 75,200 cm
c) 10,005 m d) 0,002227 kg
e) 5,6 x 10 11 c/kg f) 6,0507 g
g) 1039 km h) 04,00 h
i) 210,2 g j) 21 0 0 mm
k) 891 0 cm l) 4,0050 m
m) 32,9 x 10 3 km n) 2,98 km
o) 012,9 km

2.8.3 Metric Units

The SI or metric system is a system of weights and measures developed in France in
1793. Most countries of the world have since adopted it. SI stands for Le Systeme
International d'Unites or the International System of Units.

The basic unit of length is the meter (m). The unit of area is the are, or 100 square
meters ( m 2 ). The unit of volume is the liter (l) and the unit of weight is the gram (g).
Converting between metric units is easy because they are related by factors of 10.

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

Amount Multiples Prefix Symbol Pronunciation Meaning

1 000 000 10 6 mega M meg'a One million
times
1 000 10 3 kilo k kil'o One
thousand
times
100 10 2 hecto h hek'to One hundred
times
10 10 deka da dek'a Ten times

0,1 10 1 deci d des'i One

tenth of
0,01 10 2 centi c sen'ti One
hundredth of
0,001 10 3 milli m mil'i One
thousandth
of
0,000 001 10 6 micro  mi'kro One
millionth of

Exercise 2.7
1. Convert the following metric units. Write your answer in scientific notation if
the numerical value is greater than 1 000 or less than 0,001.
a) 364 000 meters to kilometers. b) 0,000 473 Volts to millivolts.
c) 735 900 grams to kilograms. d) 7,68  10 5 kilowatts to watts.
e) 6,2  10 9 ohms to megaohms. f) 825  10 4 Newtons to kiloNewtons.
g) 9 348 farads to microfarads. h) 84 398 microseconds to milliseconds.
i) 0,000426 Ma to microamperes.
2. Convert the following metric units.
a) 2 367 cm 2 to m 2 . b) 5 698 mm2 to cm 2 .
c) 8 921 cm 2 to m 2 . d) 2 437 mm2 to cm 2 .
e) 18,2 m 2 to cm 2 . f) 2,7 m 2 to cm 2 .
3. Convert the following metric units.
a) 67 cm 3 to mm3 . b) 3 694 mm3 to cm 3 .
c) 89 520 cm 3 to m 3 . d) 3 243 mm3 to cm 3 .
e) 18,2 m 3 to cm 3 . f) 2,7 m 3 to cm 3 .

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

2.8.4 Converting rates to other units.

A rate is the amount of one quantity expressed per unit of some other quantity. Some
rates, with typical units, are:
 Rate of travel (km/h)
 Flow rate ( m 3 / s )
 Unit price (R/kg), etc.
Each rate contains two units of measure. You will have to convert each unit with a
separate conversion factor.

Exercise 2.8
1. Convert the following rates to the indicated rate. Answer correct to 1 decimal.
a) 60 km / h to m / s b) 3,8 m / s to km / h
c) 236 km / h to m / s d) 52,7 m / s to km / h
e) 12,3 liters/second to kl / h

2.9 Linear and Angular Velocity

Δs Δ
v  v  r
Δt Δt
Angular velocity is measured in rpm or in rad .s 1

Example:
A wheel is rotating with an angular velocity of 20 rad .s 1 . If the linear velocity of the

wheel is 5m.s 1 , determine the radius of the wheel.

Solution:
5 m.s 1
v
r 
 20rad.s 1
 0,25 m (Time units cancel, rad has no dimension)
Example:
A shaft is rotating at 1000 rpm. A gear with a radius of 25 cm is attached to the shaft.
Find the linear velocity of the gear.
Solution:
Convert 1000 rpm to rad .s 1

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

1000  2 rad
1000 rpm 
60 s

   104,72 rad .s 1
 v  r
1000
 rad.s 1  0,25 m
30
 26,18 m.s 1

Exercise 2.9
1. A propeller on a wind generator rotates 69  in one second. Express the angular
velocity of the propeller in radians per second.
2. A propeller on a wind generator rotates 175  in one second. Express the angular
velocity of the propeller in radians per second.
3. A propeller on a wind generator rotates at 8,7 revolutions per minute. Express the
angular velocity of the propeller in radians per second.
4. A propeller on a wind generator rotates at 52 revolutions per minute. Express the
angular velocity of the propeller in radians per second.

Exercise 2.10
1. Convert the following rates to the indicated rate. Give answers correct to 2
decimals.
a) 2 revolutions per minute (rpm) to radians per minute (rad.m 1 )
b) 1,8 rpm to rad.m 1 c) 2,56 rpm to rad.m 1
d) 1,257 rpm to rad.m 1 e) 1,99 rpm to rad.m 1
2. Convert the following rates to the indicated rate. Give answers correct to 2
decimals.
a) 2 revolutions per minute to radians per second
b) 1,8 rpm to rad.s 1 c) 2,56 rpm to rad.s 1
d) 1,257 rpm to rad.s 1 e) 1,99 rpm to rad.s 1
3. Convert the following rates to the indicated rate. Give answers correct to 2
decimals.
a) 15 radians per second to revolutions per second
b) 38,9 rad.s 1 to r.s 1 c) 12,9 rad.s 1 to r.s 1

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MATHEMATICS LEVEL 1 CHAPTER 2: RADIAN MEASURE

d) 1,98 rad.s 1 to r.s 1 e) 22,5 rad.s 1 to r.s 1

4. Convert the following rates to the indicated rate. Give answers correct to 2
decimals.
a) 15 radians per second to revolutions per minute
b) 38,9 rad.s 1 to rpm c) 12,9 rad.s 1 to rpm
d) 1,98 rad.s 1 to rpm e) 22,5 rad.s 1 to rpm

Exercise 2.11
1. A train travels at a speed of 100 km.h 1 . It travels on a circular track with a
radius of 2 km . Determine the angular velocity in radians per second.
2. The tyre of a bicycle turns at 1,67 rps . If the outside diameter of the tyre is
710 mm , determine:
a) The angular velocity of the tyre in radians per second.
b) The velocity at which the bicycle moves in km.h 1 .
3. A model airplane flies in circular format. The radius of the circle is 25 m . If it
takes 10 seconds to complete a full circle, determine
a) the angular velocity in radians per second.
b) The linear velocity in m.s 1 .
4. A vehicle’s tyres have an outside diameter of 600 mm . If the vehicle moves at

110 km.h 1 , calculate

a) The angular velocity of the tyre in radians per second.
b) The angular velocity of the tyre in revolutions per minute.
5. A satellite is in circular orbit. The radius of the orbit is 66700 km . If a
complete orbit requires 90 minutes, determine
a) The angular velocity in radians per second.
b) The linear velocity in
i) km.h 1
ii) m.s 1

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