How To Calculate The Area Of A Curved Surface

Calculating a square area is as easy as multiplying the length by the width. But when you have a curved surface like a sphere or a cylinder, the problem can be puzzling. Luckily, mathematicians have figured out formulas for curved surfaces, so all you have to do is take a couple of simple measurements and plug the measurements into the formulas. For example, if you know the radius of a sphere, you can use the formula 4 pi r^2 to calculate its surface area. The surface area of a cylinder can be calculated with the height and radius using the formula 2 pi r^2 + 2 pi r h.

Step 1

Square the radius. For example, if the radius is 5 inches, then: 5 inches * 5 inches = 25 inches squared.

Step 2

Multiply Step 1 by pi. Pi * 25 inches squared = 78.54 inches squared.

Step 3

Multiply Step 2 by 4: 78.54 inches squared * 4 = 314.16 inches squared.

Step 1

Square the radius. For example, if the radius is 2 inches, then: 2 inches * 2 inches = 4 inches squared.

Step 2

Multiply Step 1 by 6.28. 6.28 * 4 inches = 25.04 inches.

Step 3

Multiply the radius by the height. For example, a radius of 2 inches and a height of 10 inches would give you: 2 inches * 10 inches = 20 inches squared.

Step 4

Multiply Step 3 by 6.28: 20 inches squared * 6.28 = 125.6 inches squared.

Step 5

Add Step 2 and Step 4 together: 25.04 inches squared + 125.6 inches squared = 150.64 inches.