Definition:Circle/Arc/Major

Definition

Let $a$ and $b$ be two points on the circumference of a circle.

The major arc joining $a$ and $b$ is the longer of the two arcs joining $a$ and $b$.

In the above diagram:

the arc $ECBDF$ is the major arc defined by $E$ and $F$

the arc $CEFDB$ is the major arc defined by $B$ and $C$.

and so on.

Also see

• Definition:Minor Arc of Circle

Sources

• 1989: Ephraim J. Borowski and Jonathan M. Borwein: Dictionary of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): arc: 1 b.
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): major arc
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): major arc
• 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): major arc

• Weisstein, Eric W. "Major Arc." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/MajorArc.html