Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2008 Paper 1 9 Solution Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-10-20
Let be the top vertex, the center, and the two other points on the circle. The diameter bisects the angle at , so the two right triangles obtained by drawing the diameter to the opposite point show that have coordinates when and . The chord cuts off a lower circular segment of central angle . The triangle has area , while the segment has area , by subtracting the central triangle from its circular sector. Adding giveswith measured in radians. This is the unit-radius case of the area enclosed by two chords and a circular arc.