Pre-Algebra : Area of a Circle

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Pre-Algebra

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Area Of A Circle

A circle has a circumference of \(\displaystyle \small 6\pi\). What is its area?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \small 36\pi\)

\(\displaystyle \small 12\pi\)

\(\displaystyle \small 6\pi\)

\(\displaystyle \small 9\pi\)

\(\displaystyle \small 18\pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \small 9\pi\)

Explanation:

To begin, we need to find the radius of the circle. The circumference of a circle is given as follows:

\(\displaystyle \small C = 2\pi r\),

where \(\displaystyle r\) is the radius.

Then, a circle with circumference \(\displaystyle 6\pi\) will have the following radius:

\(\displaystyle 6\pi = 2\pi r\)

\(\displaystyle \small \frac{6\pi}{2\pi}=\frac{2\pi r}{2\pi}\)

\(\displaystyle \small 3=r\)

Using the radius, we can now solve for the area:

\(\displaystyle \small A=\pi r^2\)

\(\displaystyle A=\pi(3)^2\)

\(\displaystyle \small A=9\pi\)

The area of the circle is \(\displaystyle \small 9\pi\).

Example Question #2 : Area Of A Circle

What is the area of a circle with a diameter equal to \(\displaystyle 7\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 24.5\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 98\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 12.25\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 49\pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12.25\pi\)

Explanation:

If the diameter is 7, then the radius is half of 7, or 3.5.

Plug this value for the radius into the equation for the area of a circle:

\(\displaystyle A=r^2\pi=(3.5)^2\pi=12.25\pi\)

Example Question #3 : Area Of A Circle

Untitled_1

The rectangle in the above figure has length 20 and height 10. What is the area of the orange region?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 200 + 25 \pi\)

\(\displaystyle 200 + 50 \pi\)

\(\displaystyle 200 + \frac{25}{2} \pi\)

Insufficient information is given to determine the area.

\(\displaystyle 200 + 100 \pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 200 + \frac{25}{2} \pi\)

Explanation:

The orange region is a composite of two figures:

One is a rectangle measuring 20 by 10, which, subsequently, has area

\(\displaystyle 20 \cdot 10 = 200\).

The other is a semicircle with diameter 10, and, subsequently, radius 5. Its area is 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2} \pi \cdot 5^{2} = \frac{25}{2} \pi\).

Add the areas:

\(\displaystyle A = 200 + \frac{25}{2} \pi\)

Example Question #2 : Area Of A Circle

A circle has a diameter of \(\displaystyle 10\) inches. What is the area of the circle? Round to the nearest tenth decimal place.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 45.8 \textup{ in}^2\)

\(\displaystyle 78.5 \textup{ in}^2\)

\(\displaystyle 314.3 \textup{ in}^2\)

\(\displaystyle 75.4 \textup{ in}^2\)

\(\displaystyle 56.7 \textup{ in}^2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 78.5 \textup{ in}^2\)

Explanation:

The formula to find the area of a circle is \(\displaystyle A=\pi\cdot r^2\).

First you must find the radius from the diameter.

\(\displaystyle r=\frac{1}{2}d \rightarrow r=\frac{1}{2}\cdot 10=5\)

In this case it is, 

\(\displaystyle A=5^2 \cdot \pi = 25\cdot 3.14= 78.5\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Area Of A Circle

What is the area of a circle that has a diameter of \(\displaystyle 15\) inches?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 706.8583\)

\(\displaystyle 153.938\)

\(\displaystyle 153.938\)

\(\displaystyle 940\)

\(\displaystyle 960\)

\(\displaystyle 940\)

\(\displaystyle 176.7146\)

\(\displaystyle 960\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 176.7146\)

Explanation:

The formula for finding the area of a circle is \(\displaystyle \pi r^{2}\). In this formula, \(\displaystyle r\) represents the radius of the circle.  Since the question only gives us the measurement of the diameter of the circle, we must calculate the radius.  In order to do this, we divide the diameter by \(\displaystyle 2\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{15}{2}=7.5\)

Now we use \(\displaystyle 7.5\) for \(\displaystyle r\) in our equation.

\(\displaystyle \pi (7.5)^{2}=176.7146 \: in^{2}\)

 

Example Question #1 : Area Of A Circle

What is the area of a circle with a diameter equal to 6?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 36\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 3\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 18\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 9\pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 9\pi\)

Explanation:

First, solve for radius:

\(\displaystyle r=\frac{d}{2}=\frac{6}{2}=3\)

Then, solve for area:

\(\displaystyle A=r^2\pi=3^2\pi=9\pi\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Area Of A Circle

The diameter of a circle is \(\displaystyle 4\ cm\). Give the area of the circle.

 

 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 13.56\ cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 12.56\ cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 11.56\ cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 13\ cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 12 \ cm^2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12.56\ cm^2\)

Explanation:

The area of a circle can be calculated using the formula:

\(\displaystyle Area=\frac{\pi d^2}{4}\),

where \(\displaystyle d\) is the diameter of the circle, and \(\displaystyle \pi\) is approximately \(\displaystyle 3.14\).

\(\displaystyle Area=\frac{\pi d^2}{4}=\frac{\pi\times 4^2}{4}=4\pi \Rightarrow Area\approx 4\times 3.14\Rightarrow Area\approx 12.56 \ cm^2\)

Example Question #1 : Area Of A Circle

The diameter of a circle is \(\displaystyle 4t\). Give the area of the circle in terms of \(\displaystyle t\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12 t^2\)

\(\displaystyle 11.56 t\)

\(\displaystyle 11.56 t^2\)

\(\displaystyle 12.56 t^2\)

\(\displaystyle 12.56 t\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12.56 t^2\)

Explanation:

The area of a circle can be calculated using the formula:

\(\displaystyle Area=\frac{\pi d^2}{4}\),

where \(\displaystyle d\)  is the diameter of the circle and \(\displaystyle \pi\) is approximately \(\displaystyle 3.14\).

\(\displaystyle Area=\frac{\pi (4t)^2}{4}=\frac{16\pi t^2}{4}=4\pi t^2 \Rightarrow Area\approx 4\times 3.14\times t^2\)

\(\displaystyle \Rightarrow Area\approx 12.56t^2\)

Example Question #1 : Area Of A Circle

The circumference of a circle is \(\displaystyle 12.56\) inches. Find the area of the circle.

Let \(\displaystyle \pi = 3.14\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 11.56\ in^2\)

\(\displaystyle 13.56\ in^2\)

\(\displaystyle 12\ in^2\)

\(\displaystyle 11\ in^2\)

\(\displaystyle 12.56\ in^2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12.56\ in^2\)

Explanation:

First we need to find the radius of the circle. The circumference of a circle is \(\displaystyle Circumference =2\pi r\), where \(\displaystyle r\) is the radius of the circle. 

\(\displaystyle 12.56=2\times 3.14\times r\Rightarrow r=2\ in\) 

The area of a circle is \(\displaystyle Area=\pi r^2\) where \(\displaystyle r\)  is the radius of the circle.

\(\displaystyle Area=\pi r^2=3.14\times 2^2=12.56\ in^2\)

Example Question #122 : Area

Find the area of a circle that has a radius of \(\displaystyle 4\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 16\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 12\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 4\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 8\pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 16\pi\)

Explanation:

Use the formula:

\(\displaystyle \text{Area}=\pi\times r^2\)

Where \(\displaystyle r\) corresponds to the circle's radius.

Since \(\displaystyle r=4\):

\(\displaystyle \text{Area}=\pi\times(4^2)\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Area}=16\pi\)

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors