WHAT ARE THE 7 ELEMENTS OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE? - MATHS - 2024

The elements of the circumference correspond to several lines and points that can be traced in its interior and perimeter for the measurement and verification of certain geometric properties.

These elements are the center, radius, diameter, chord, secant line, tangent line, and arc. A circle is a closed curved line that is equidistant from a center, so all points are the same distance from it.

It is usual to confuse the concepts of circumference and circle, the first being a curved line and the second the surface enclosed by the circumference.

Basic elements of the circumference

Usually in the study of basic geometry one works a lot with circumferences and circles, since these allow making several simple measurements.

In addition, the demonstration of several of its elemental properties are useful to develop cognitive abilities.

1- Center

It is the midpoint of the circumference, located literally in the center of the figure at an equidistant distance from all other points on the line drawn that makes up the circumference.

Infinite lines can be drawn on the center of a circle to define their properties and delimit segments to make measurements of length, angles or equivalences.

2- Radio

Any line that joins some point on the circumference with its center will be called a radius, the basic element of any circle and circumference, since it is used to calculate other quantities such as the surface.

Although infinite lines can be drawn between a circle and its center, they will all always have the same length.

The calculation of the radius of a circle corresponds to its perimeter divided by 2 pi (radius = perimeter / 2π), it is equivalent to half the diameter.

3- Diameter

It is a segment that joins 2 points on the circumference passing through its center. The diameter is then a median line that divides a circle into equal parts.

There may be infinite lines in diameter but they will always measure the same. The value of the diameter of a circle is equal to twice the radius.

4- Rope

It is a line that joins any 2 points of a circle and is not subject to any conditions (such as the diameter). Within a circumference there can be infinite chords.

5- secant line

A secant line is a line that divides a circle into 2 points. Unlike the radius, the diameter or the chord, which only touch the circumference, a secant line crosses it beyond its limits "cutting" it. In fact, the word secant comes from the Latin secare, which means to cut.

6- Tangent line

A line that, being perpendicular to the radius, touches the circumference at a single point, is a tangent line.

This type of line is located on the outside of the circumference and can have a variable length, although it is usually not greater than the diameter of the circumference itself.

7- Arch

It is the segment of a circumference product of the tracing of a chord. An arc is made up of 3 points: the center and the 2 places where the string touches the circumference.

References

1. Paul Dawkins (nd). Calculus I: Tangent Lines. Retrieved on December 10, 2017, from Math Lamar.
2. Circumference concept and its elements (sf). Retrieved on December 10, 2017, from Cecyt.
3. Circle (sf). Retrieved on December 10, 2017, from TutorVista.
4. Circumference (sf). Retrieved on December 10, 2017, from Math Goodies.
5. Radius, diameter, & circumference (sf). Retrieved on December 10, 2017, from Khan Academy.
6. Arc (sf). Retrieved on December 10, 2017, from Math Open Reference.