Area of a Circle Examples in Math

Start with the recap, study the fully worked examples, then use the practice problems to check your understanding of Area of a Circle.

This page combines explanation, solved examples, and follow-up practice so you can move from recognition to confident problem-solving in Math.

Concept Recap

The amount of space enclosed inside a circle, calculated as \pi times the square of the radius.

Imagine cutting a pizza into many thin slices and rearranging them into a shape that looks like a rectangle. The 'height' of that rectangle is the radius r, and the 'width' is half the circumference (\pi r). So the area is r \times \pi r = \pi r^2.

Read the full concept explanation →

How to Use These Examples

  • Read the first worked example with the solution open so the structure is clear.
  • Try the practice problems before revealing each solution.
  • Use the related concepts and background knowledge badges if you feel stuck.

What to Focus On

Core idea: The area of a circle grows with the square of the radius—double the radius, quadruple the area.

Common stuck point: The formula uses the radius, not the diameter. If given the diameter, divide by 2 first.

Worked Examples

Example 1

easy
Find the area of a circle with radius 6 cm. Leave your answer in terms of \pi.

Solution

  1. 1
    The area enclosed by a circle of radius r is A = \pi r^2. This can be understood by imagining the circle divided into many thin triangles from the centre; their combined area gives \frac{1}{2} \times (2\pi r) \times r = \pi r^2.
  2. 2
    Substitute r = 6 cm: A = \pi(6)^2 = \pi \times 36.
  3. 3
    Result: A = 36\pi cm² \approx 113.1 cm². Note that doubling the radius quadruples the area (since r is squared), a key scaling insight.

Answer

A = 36\pi \text{ cm}^2
The area of a circle depends on the square of the radius. Doubling the radius quadruples the area, which illustrates the quadratic relationship between radius and area.

Example 2

medium
Find the area of a semicircle with diameter 20 cm. Give your answer to one decimal place.

Practice Problems

Try these problems on your own first, then open the solution to compare your method.

Example 1

hard
A circular garden has an area of 154 m². Find the radius of the garden. Use \pi \approx \frac{22}{7}.

Example 2

medium
A circular pond has radius 6 m. A path around it extends the outer radius to 9 m. Find the area of the path.

Background Knowledge

These ideas may be useful before you work through the harder examples.

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