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6.3: Circumference

  • Page ID
    7095
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    The last geometric shape formula we will look at is the circumference of a cylinder. The circumference is the distance around a closed curve. It is the distance around the length around a circle. The importance of this formula in waterworks mathematics displays itself in questions regarding the painting or coating of a cylinder. The picture below illustrates the circumference.

    clipboard_e3e642463d4ddff959990724973854e79.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Circumference of a cylinder

    If you “slice” open a cylinder and unravel it, it becomes a rectangle. The length of this rectangle is the circumference of the cylinder. In order to calculate the surface area of a cylinder, use the following formula.

    Area of a cylinder = \(H \times(\text { Diameter } \times \pi)\)

    Where (\(\text { Diameter } \times \pi\)) is the length around the cylinder.

    Exercises 6.3

    Solve the following

    1. What is the area of the wall of a 20 ft tall tank with a 30 ft diameter?
    2. What is the area of the walls of a 1,000 ft section of 24” diameter pipe?
    3. You have been asked to calculate how many gallons of paint would be needed to paint a 30 ft tall tank with a 100 ft diameter. You need to paint the inside roof, floor, and walls. One gallon of paint covers approximately 200 ft2. How many gallons of paint are needed?

    This page titled 6.3: Circumference is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Mike Alvord & Regina Blasberg (ZTC Textbooks) .

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