How To Calculate The Surface Area Of A Cylinder: Step-By-Step Guide With Examples

Area of a Cylinder

πr² + πr² + h•2πr

The formula to calculate the surface area of a cylinder is:

SA = 2πr² + 2πrh

where r is the radius of the circular base of the cylinder and h is the height of the cylinder.

To find the area of a cylinder, follow these steps:

1. Identify the radius of the circular base of the cylinder. The radius is the distance from the center of the base to the edge or perimeter of the circle.

2. Identify the height of the cylinder. The height is the vertical distance between the top and bottom of the cylinder.

3. Use the formula above to calculate the surface area. Plug in the values of radius and height to the formula and do the calculation. Remember to use the value of π as approximately 3.14 or use more accurate value if required.

4. The final result will be in square units, as it represents the area of the entire curved surface of the cylinder.

For example, if the radius of the base of a cylinder is 5 cm and the height is 8 cm, the surface area of the cylinder would be:

SA = 2πr² + 2πrh
SA = 2π(5)² + 2π(5)(8)
SA = 2π(25) + 2π(40)
SA = 50π + 80π
SA = 130π
SA ≈ 408.4 cm²

So, the surface area of the cylinder is approximately 408.4 square centimeters.

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