We are filled with circles, in wheels and clocks, in plates and coins. But have you ever wondered how far around a circle it is? That distance is the circumference. And, just as the perimeter of a square tells you how long the border is, the circumference of a circle informs you how far around the circle you would have to walk to return to the starting point.
In this blog, we will learn about circumference of circle, circumference of circle formula and find out circumference in simple steps. From solving math problems to simply being curious, this tutorial will make the topic simple and fun.
Table of Contents
The circumference is the total distance around a circle. It’s like walking along the outer edge of a round field. In math, the circumference is the same as the perimeter of a circle.
So, when we say “circumference of a circle,” we mean the complete curved boundary of the circle.
To find the circumference of a circle, we use the most popular formula in math:
Circumference (C) = 2πr
Where:
π (pi) is a special number in math. It’s about 3.14
r is the radius of the circle (the distance from the center to the edge)
So, if you know the radius, you can find the circumference easily by multiplying it with 2 and π.
The expression 2πr is the formula used to calculate the circumference of a circle.
2 because the full circle is two halves
π (pi) is a constant, around 3.14
r is the radius of the circle
Together, 2πr tells us how long the boundary of the circle is.
The number 3.14 is an approximation of the mathematical constant π (pi). In real-life calculations, we often use 3.14 to represent π.
So, if the radius of a circle is 7 cm, then:
Circumference = 2 × 3.14 × 7 = 43.96 cm
There are actually two main formulas you can use to find the circumference of a circle:
If you know the radius (r):
C = 2πr
If you know the diameter (d) (which is twice the radius):
C = πd
Both formulas give the same result. You can use whichever one is easier based on the information you have.
Besides the circumference, you might also need to find the area of a circle that is, how much space it covers inside the boundary.
Here are both formulas:
Circumference:
C = 2πr
Area:
A = πr²
So, the area of circumference formula doesn’t really exist because area and circumference are two different things:
Circumference = boundary length
Area = space inside the circle
Let’s say you have a circle with radius = 5 cm.
Circumference = 2 × π × 5 = 2 × 3.14 × 5 = 31.4 cm
Area = π × 5² = 3.14 × 25 = 78.5 cm²
So you’ve now calculated both how far it is around the circle, and how much space it covers inside!
Here are the simple rules to remember:
Use C = 2πr to find the circumference (the boundary)
Use A = πr² to find the area (the inside space)
These two formulas are easy to memorize and help solve most circle problems.
Did you know that π (pi) is a never-ending number? It goes on forever without repeating. Most people use 3.14 for easy calculations, but the actual value starts like this:
π = 3.1415926535... and so on!
It’s one of the most famous numbers in math!
Bicycle Wheel:
If the wheel has a radius of 14 inches, the distance around the wheel is its circumference.
C = 2 × 3.14 × 14 = 87.92 inches
Round Table:
If a circular table has a diameter of 1 meter, the circumference is:
C = π × 1 = 3.14 meters
This helps in measuring borders, ribbons around circles, tires, plates, and many round things!
Circumference of the circle is one of the key math skills. It helps us to gauge circular objects and answer geometry questions simply. Remember:
Circumference = distance around the circle
Area = space inside the circle
Assume π = 3.14 for rough estimates
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It is the formula for the circumference of a circle.
2πr means 2 × π × radius. It tells how far it is around a circle.
There are two formulas:
C = 2πr (using radius)
C = πd (using diameter)
Use whichever is easier based on what you know.
3.14 is the value used for π (pi) in simple calculations.
It helps us estimate the circumference using the formula.
If radius = r:
Circumference = 2πr
Area = πr²
Both are basic circle formulas in math.
Use C = 2πr for circumference
Use A = πr² for area
Both depend on the radius and the number π.
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