Points (2 ,8 ) and (1 ,5 ) are ( pi)/4 radians apart on a circle. What is the shortest arc length between the points?

1 Answer
May 15, 2016

The arc length is
L=pi sqrt(5(2+sqrt(2)))/4

Explanation:

We have coordinates of two points:
Point A(2,8)
Point B(1,5)

Consider point O with unknown coordinates to be a center of a circle that goes through points A and B.
Then we know that angle /_AOB = pi/4.

To define the length of an arc from A to B we need to know the radius of this circle R=OA=OB. Then, knowing the central angle /_AOB=pi/4, we can easily determine the length of an arc from A to B as (piR)/4.

To determine the radius R=OA=OB, draw a perpendicular bisector to a segment AB. It should pass through a center of a circle O.

Let the midpoint of a segment AB be point M.
Consider triangle Delta AOM.
It's a right triangle with hypotenuse AO (that is, the radius R of a circle), cathetus AM being equal to half of a distance from A to B and an opposite acute angle /_AOM=pi/8.

AM=1/2 AB = 1/2 sqrt((2-1)^2+(8-5)^2)=sqrt(10)/2

Now we can determine
R=AO=(AM)/sin(/_AOM)=sqrt(10)/(2sin(pi/8))

To determine exact value of sin(pi/8), notice that
sin^2(pi/4)=[2sin(pi/8)Cos(pi/8)]^2=4sin^2(pi/8)[1-sin^2(pi/8)]

Let sin^2(pi/8)=x.

Then, since sin^2(pi/4)=(sqrt(2)/2)^2=1/2,
4x(1-x)=1/2
or
8x^2-8x+1=0

Choosing a smaller root of this quadratic equation,
x=(2-sqrt(2))/4

Therefore,
sin(pi/8) = 1/2sqrt(2-sqrt(2))

Hence,
R=sqrt(10)/sqrt(2-sqrt(2))=sqrt(10/(2-sqrt(2))=
=sqrt(10(2+sqrt(2))/[(2-sqrt(2))(2+sqrt(2))])=
=sqrt(10(2+sqrt(2))/2)=sqrt(5(2+sqrt(2))

The arc length is
L=piR/4=pi sqrt(5(2+sqrt(2)))/4