"Arc Length" Explained

A fraction of the circumference.

Key Idea: Arc Length

The arc length of a circle is a fraction of the circumference, determined by the measure of the central angle relative to the entire circle.


General Rule:

Arc Length = Central Angle / 360 × Circumference

Why this matters for the SAT:

Arc length problems often appear in circle geometry. Recognizing that arc length depends on the angle-to-360° ratio allows you to solve quickly without memorizing multiple formulas.