Quarter Circle Calculator

Calculate area, perimeter, chord, arc length, and other properties of quarter circles

Calculate Quarter Circle Properties

units

Enter a positive value for the radius (r)

Example Calculations

Example 1: Radius = 6 units

Quarter Area: A = (π × 6²) / 4 = (π × 36) / 4 = 28.27 units²

Arc Length: L = (π × 6) / 2 = 9.42 units

Chord: c = 6 × √2 = 8.49 units

Perimeter: P = 2(6) + 9.42 = 21.42 units

Example 2: Radius = 10 units

Quarter Area: A = (π × 10²) / 4 = 78.54 units²

Arc Length: L = (π × 10) / 2 = 15.71 units

Chord: c = 10 × √2 = 14.14 units

External Area: A_ext = 10² - 78.54 = 21.46 units²

Example 3: Radius = 5 units

Quarter Area: A = (π × 5²) / 4 = 19.63 units²

Perimeter: P = 2(5) + (π × 5) / 2 = 17.85 units

Centroid: (4×5)/(3π), (4×5)/(3π) = (2.12, 2.12)

Formula Reference

Quarter Area
A = (π × r²) / 4
Arc Length
L = (π × r) / 2
Chord Length
c = r × √2
Perimeter
P = 2r + (π × r) / 2
External Area
A_ext = r² - (π × r²) / 4

Quick Reference

Radius (r)Base unit
Diameter (d)d = 2r
Central Angle90° or π/2 rad
Arc : Full Circle1:4 ratio
Area : Full Circle1:4 ratio

Common Values

r = 1A = π/4 ≈ 0.785
r = 2A = π ≈ 3.142
r = 3A = 9π/4 ≈ 7.069
r = 5A = 25π/4 ≈ 19.635
r = 10A = 25π ≈ 78.540

Quick Tips

Quarter circle area is exactly 1/4 of full circle area

Arc length is 1/4 of circle circumference

Chord creates a right triangle with two radii

External area equals square area minus quarter area

Understanding Quarter Circles

What is a Quarter Circle?

A quarter circle is exactly one-fourth (1/4) of a complete circle. It's formed by dividing a circle into four equal parts, where each part has a central angle of 90 degrees (π/2 radians). The quarter circle consists of an arc and two radii that meet at a right angle.

Key Components

  • Arc: The curved portion, 1/4 of the circle's circumference
  • Radii: Two straight lines from center to arc endpoints
  • Chord: Straight line connecting the arc endpoints
  • Central Angle: 90° angle between the two radii

Mathematical Properties

Area Relationships

Quarter area is exactly 1/4 of full circle:

A_quarter = (π × r²) / 4

A_full = π × r²

Arc Length

Arc is 1/4 of circle circumference:

L_arc = (π × r) / 2

C_full = 2π × r

Chord Calculation

Using Pythagorean theorem:

c² = r² + r² = 2r²

c = r × √2

External Area Concept

The external area refers to the area outside the quarter circle but inside a square formed by the two radii and two additional lines perpendicular to them. This creates a square with side length r, and the external area is the difference between this square's area and the quarter circle's area.

External Area = r² - (π × r²) / 4

External Area = r² × (1 - π/4)

Real-World Applications

Architecture & Construction

  • • Rounded corner designs in buildings
  • • Garden landscaping and pathways
  • • Architectural arches and doorways
  • • Interior design corner treatments
  • • Swimming pool and pond design

Manufacturing & Design

  • • Sheet metal cutting and forming
  • • Furniture design with rounded corners
  • • Automotive part manufacturing
  • • Electronic device housing design
  • • Textile and clothing patterns

Science & Engineering

  • • Mechanical linkage design
  • • Flow dynamics in pipe bends
  • • Optical lens and mirror design
  • • Antenna radiation pattern analysis
  • • Stress analysis in curved structures