Two new equations to find the arc length

Ayman Kamel
Researcher assistant, Microbiology department

National Research Center, El Buhouth St., Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
Email address:
Aymankamel91@yahoo.com

Abstract: Arc length found by many methods as "circle arc" which given by this formula L = r . where L = arc length, r
is a radius of the circle, is measure of the central angle in radians and this call regular curve. Determining the length of an
irregular arc segment is also called rectification of a curve. Historically, many methods were used for specific curves. The
advent of infinitesimal calculus led to a general formula that provides closed-form solutions in some cases. [1] The paper
will show new method for finding "arc length" in general by new formula under conditions of using formula which
agreement the rules of formula with shape of regular & irregular curve.
Key words: Arc length, Constant curve, Integrate

1. Introduction
Antiquity
For much of the history of mathematics, even the
greatest thinkers considered it impossible to compute the
length of an irregular arc. Although Archimedes had
pioneered a way of finding the area beneath a curve with
his method of exhaustion, few believed it was even possible
for curves to have definite lengths, as do straight lines. The
first ground was broken in this field, as it often has been in
calculus, by approximation. Researchers began to inscribe
polygons within the curves and compute the length of the
sides for a somewhat accurate measurement of the length.
By using more segments, and by decreasing the length of
each segment, they were able to obtain a more and more
accurate approximation. In particular, by inscribing a
polygon of many sides in a circle, they were able to find
approximate values of .
1600's
In the 17th century, the method of exhaustion led to the
rectification by geometrical methods of several
transcendental curves: the logarithmic spiral by Evangelista
Torricelli in 1645 (some sources say John Wallis in the
1650s), the cycloid by Christopher Wren in 1658, and the
catenary by Gottfried Leibniz in 1691.
In 1659, Wallis credited William Neile's discovery of the
first rectification of a nontrivial algebraic curve, the
semicubical parabola.[2]


Integral form
Before the full formal development of the calculus, the
basis for the modern integral form for arc length was
independently discovered by Hendrik van Heuraet and
Pierre de Fermat.
In 1659 van Heuraet published a construction showing
that the problem of determining arc length could be
transformed into the problem of determining the area under
a curve (i.e., an integral). As an example of his method, he
determined the arc length of a semicubical parabola, which
required finding the area under a parabola.[3] In 1660,
Fermat published a more general theory containing the
same result in his De linearum curvarum cum lineis rectis
comparatione dissertation geometrica (Geometric
dissertation on curved lines in comparison with straight
lines).[4]
2. Methods
Variables characteristics of height and base of arc
- Arc must be start with minimize value and then
getting to be up to the maximize value until it
descends again to the minimize value and this is
regular curve or arc.
- The base (b) is a line link between starting point of
arc or curved and endpoint of the curved or arc.
- Height (h) is a vertical straight on the base of the
maximum value of the arc or curve.

Fig (1) Circle
Circle is a regular curve as the fig (1) and by it will show
how to conclusion the new formula of "arc length".
Assume BC = 2AD = 2R = b & AD = h
b
2
= r
2
+ r
2
2Cos rr [5] [Law of cosines]
b
2
= 2r
2
2Cos r
2

b
2
= 2r
2
(1 Cos )
Cos= 1 - (b
2
/2r
2
)
= arccos (1 - (b
2
/2r
2
))
r = (b
2
+ 4h
2
) / 8h [6] [intersecting chord theorem]
L = r/180
Where L is arc length of circle.
L = (b
2
+ 4h
2
) / (8h 180)
L = (arccos (1 - (b
2
/2((b
2
+ 4h
2
) / 8h)
2
)) (b
2
+ 4h
2
)) / (8h
180)

By previous equation can foundation length arc
generally.













Another way for foundation arc length

Fig (2) Circle
.Height (AD) vertical axis to the base (BC) and making
perpendicular angle in the triangle (ABC).
(AB)
2
= (AB)
2
+ (BB)
2
[Pythagorean Theorem]
AB = (AB)
2
+ (BB)
2
(1)
(AC)
2
= (AB)
2
+(CB)
2
[Pythagorean Theorem]
AC = (AB)
2
+ (CB)
2
(2)
By assuming BB = BC =
1
2
, BC
Addition equation 1 to 2
AB + AC = 4(AB)
2
+ (BC)
2

By the experience of the previous equation AB +AC =
4(AB)
2
+ (BC)
2
on the circle as following:
R = AD = 1/2 BC 1 2 3 4
ABC Arc 3.14 6.28 9.42 12.57
AB + AC 2.83 5.66 8.49 11.31
(ABC Arc)

(AB + AC)
0.31 0.62 0.93 1.26

By notice, the different between (ABC Arc) -
(AB + AC) is (Constant R) that constant is
0.313165528 or ( - 22).
ABC Aic = 4(AB)
2
+ (BC)
2
+(AB)(N)
Where M is arc constant =
0.31316552884360314085926593486011 = ( - 22).
Length of
"b"
0 2h
Error hM 0

By notice, found error value depend on the height (AD)
where (BC) = 0, then the error value = M (2h b)/2, where
"h" is height (AD) and "b" is base (BC).

Where by graphically of Equation of a straight line
(x
1
,y
1
) = (0,h.M) and (x
2
,y
2
) = (2h,0).
Linear regression equation is (y
1
-y
2
) / (x
1
-x
2
) = (y-y
1
) /
(x-x
1
)
(h.M-0) / (0-2h) = (y-h.M) / (x-0)
(h.M/-2h) = (y-h.M) / x
h.M . x = -2h.y + 2h
2
.M
h.M . x + 2h.y - 2h
2
.M = 0
M.x + 2y 2h.M = 0
2y = 2h.M M.x
Where x is b and y is linear regression or error
Error = M (2h b) / 2
The final formula as following:

3. Conclusion
Un-integrated methods are simple and used for circle arc
as a regular curve but couldn't use in irregular curve, so
used integrated methods but not simple to use and so
complex then two methods mentioned before combine
between simple method and for all curve which depend on
the variables base and height of arc.

References
[1] In P-J. Laurent, P. Sablonniere, and L. L. Schumaker (Eds.),
Curve and Surface Design: Saint-Malo 1999, pp. 6390,
Vanderbilt Univ.
[2] John Wallis, Tractatus Duo. Prior, De Cycloideet de
Corporibusinde Genitis. (Oxford, England: University Press,
1659), pages 91-96; the accompanying figures appear on
page 145. On page 91, William Neile is mentioned as
"Gulielmus Nelius".
[3] Henricus van Heuraet, "Epistola de transmutatione
curvarum linearum in rectas" (Letter on the transformation
of curved lines into right ones [i.e., Letter on the
rectification of curves]), Renati Des-Cartes Geometria, 2nd
ed. (Amsterdam ["Amsteldami"], (Netherlands): Louis &
Daniel Elzevir, 1659), pages 517-520.
[4] "M.P.E.A.S." (pseudonym of Fermat) De Linearum
Curvarum cum Lineis Rectis Comparatione Dissertatio
Geometrica (Toulouse [Tolos], France: Arnaud Colomer,
1660).
[5] "Euclid, Elements Thomas L. Heath, Sir Thomas Little
Heath, Ed". Retrieved 3 November 2012.
[6] Woodward, Ernest (1978), Geometry - Plane, Solid &
Analytic Problem Solver, Research & Education Assoc.,
p. 359, ISBN 9780878915101.

b