Circles: knowing that all measures of a circle are related through the radius is very helpful for Test Day. In circle problems, we should always mark the radius and write down the relevant formulas. There are only a few formulas to memorize for GRE circle geometry. However, being able to apply these formulas and switch from one to the other will make all the difference on our Test Day performance and timing!
Every circle problem on the GRE comes down to using the radius to find some other measure!
An arc is simply a part of the circumference, and a sector is part of the area of a circle which is formed by two radii, and the arc they intercept. If we know the radius of the circle and the degree measure of the arc or sector, we can calculate the
Length of arc = inscribed angle = area of sector
Circumference 360 degree area of circle
For example: To find the area of the sector with a central angle of 90 degrees, given a circle area of 64 pie, simply multiply by the measure of the central angle over 360 degrees.
64 pie ( 90/360) = 64 pie (1/4) = 16 pie
Join us next time when we’ll discuss translating words into mathematical expressions on the GRE.
Next Step Test Preparation provides one-on-one GRE tutoring programs nationwide. Contact us for a free GRE consultation.
Search the Blog
Free Consultation
Interested in our Online MCAT Course or one of our One-on-One MCAT Tutoring packages? Set up a free consultation with one of our experienced Academic Managers!
Schedule NowPopular Posts
-
MCAT Blog How to Review MCAT Full-Lengths

Free MCAT Practice Account
Need great MCAT practice?Get the most representative MCAT practice possible when you sign up for our free MCAT Account, which includes a half-length diagnostic exam and one of our full-length MCAT practice exams.
Learn More
Submit a Comment