Measurement Session 7: Circles and pi

Session 7, Part B:
Area of a Circle (60 minutes)

In This Part: Transforming a Circle | Examining the Formula

In Session 6, we found the areas of different polygons (parallelograms, triangles) by dissecting the polygons and rearranging the pieces into a recognizable simpler shape.

In this case, we transformed a parallelogram into a rectangle by slicing a triangle off one end and sliding it along to fit into the other end. In doing so, we established that the area of the parallelogram was the same as the area of the equivalent rectangle (its base multiplied by the perpendicular height). Can we use the same technique and transform a circle into a rectangular shape?

Use the following Interactive Activity to measure a circle and the resulting figure when you cut it into wedges and tape them together to form a crude parallelogram.

This activity requires the Flash plug-in, which you can download for free from Macromedia's Web site. A non-interactive version of this activity is available.

Notice that we have a crude parallelogram with a height equal to the radius of the original circle.

Problem B1

How does the area of the figure compare with the area of the circle?


Problem B2
The scalloped base of the figure is formed by arcs of the circle. Write an expression relating the length of the base b to the circumference C of the circle.

Is b equal to the circumference of the circle? You may need to re-form the wedges back into a circle and then back again into a parallelogram. Close Tip


Problem B3
Write an expression for the length of the base b in terms of the radius r of the circle.

C =

d or C = 2

r. Substitute one of these expressions for C in your equation in Problem B2. Close Tip

C =

d or C = 2

r. Substitute one of these expressions for C in your equation in Problem B2.

Problem B4

If you increase the number of wedges, the figure you create becomes an increasingly improved approximation of a parallelogram with base b and height r. Write an expression for the area of the rectangle in terms of r.

Think about how the activity involving wedges helps explain the area formula of a circle, A = • r².

Next > Part B (Continued): Examining the Formula

Session 7: Index | Notes | Solutions | Video