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Calculate the surface area of cylinders

Surface area of a cylinder is the total area of its two congruent circular bases and its curved lateral surface, represented by the net of two circles and a rectangle, giving S=2πr2+2πrhS=2\pi r^2+2\pi rh for radius rr and height hh. The quantities are interpreted in square units, with answers expressed exactly using π\pi or approximated appropriately; the diameter must be halved when a radius is required.

Detailed Explanation: Calculate the surface area of cylinders

A cylinder has:

  • two circular bases, each with area πr2\pi r^2
  • one curved surface, which unwraps into a rectangle with area 2πrh2\pi rh

So, the total surface area is

S=2πr2+2πrhS=2\pi r^2+2\pi rh

where rr is the radius and hh is the height. The answer is always in square units.

Example: Find the surface area of a cylinder with diameter 1010 cm and height 77 cm.

  1. Find the radius. The radius is half the diameter:
r=102=5 cmr=\frac{10}{2}=5\text{ cm}
  1. Substitute r=5r=5 and h=7h=7 into the formula:
S=2π(5)2+2π(5)(7)S=2\pi(5)^2+2\pi(5)(7)
  1. Simplify each part:
S=2π(25)+70πS=2\pi(25)+70\pi S=50π+70π=120πS=50\pi+70\pi=120\pi

Therefore, the exact surface area is

120π cm2\boxed{120\pi\text{ cm}^2}

Using π3.14\pi\approx3.14, the surface area is approximately

120(3.14)=376.8 cm2120(3.14)=376.8\text{ cm}^2

So, the surface area is about 376.8 cm2\boxed{376.8\text{ cm}^2}.

Learn by doing: Calculate the surface area of cylinders

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Surface Area of a Cylinder - Calculate


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