Uses of π

π on the elementary level is no more than a means of finding area and circumference. In geometry and elementary math, we are taught that π is used to find area by multiplying the radius squared times π. Thus comes the formula:

Take the following problem:

You have a circle whose radius is equal to 3 cm. What is the area?

To solve this problem, you would take what you know (r=3) and plug it into your formula. So you have:

You get A=9π or approximately 28.27.

π is also used on the elementary level to find the circumference of a circle, or the perimeter of a circle. We know the following formulas:

These problems are calculated very similarly to the problem above. Find the circumference of the circle above.

This is completed very simply. You again take what you know (r=3) and plug it into your formula. So you now have

or C=6π. This is approximately 18.85.

Now onto the next level!

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