Circular-arc area maximizer with a fixed graph length ($y=\sqrt{R^2-(x-a{)}^2}-\sqrt{R^2-a^2}$)

For a nonnegative graph joining $(0,0)$ and $(2a,0)$ with length between $2a$ and $\pi a$, the area-maximizing smooth graph is a circular arch. The Euler-Lagrange equation integrates to the displayed circle formula. Its radius satisfies $l=2R\arcsin (a/R)$ with $R>a$. Concavity of $y-R\sqrt{1+(y^{\prime }{)}^2}$ gives global maximality on the fixed-length class.

A circular arch of chord length $2a$ described as a smooth single-valued graph has radius $R>a$ and length $2R\arcsin (a/R)$, ranging strictly between $2a$ and $\pi a$. The straight-line limit has length $2a$. At the semicircle limit the endpoint slopes are infinite. Longer circular arcs require overhangs and cannot be graphs in this class.