Circumference Of A Circle

Related Pages
Area Of A Circle
Arc Of A Circle
Circles
More Geometry Lessons

What Is The Circumference Of A Circle

A circle is a closed curve formed by a set of points on a plane that are the same distance from its center. The circumference of a circle is the distance around the circle. It is sometimes called the perimeter of a circle.

Formula For The Circumference Of A Circle

Calculating the circumference of a circle involves a constant called pi, with the symbol π. Pi (π) is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Pi is always the same number for any circle.

The value of π (pi) is approximately 3.14159265358979323846… but usually rounding to 3.142 should be sufficient. (see a mnemonic for π)

The formula for the circumference of a circle is

C = πd     (see a mnemonic for this formula)

or

C = 2πr

where C is the circumference, d is the diameter and r is the radius.

The diameter of a circle is a line segment that passes through the center of the circle and has its endpoints on the circle. The radius of the circle is a line segment from the center of the circle to a point on the circle. The diameter of a circle is twice the length of its radius.

If you are given the diameter then use the formula C = πd

If you are given the radius then use the formula C = 2πr

A fun way to remember the formulas for the circumference of a circle and the area of a circle

Pi, where does it come from?
How pi can be calculated for any circle?

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Find the Circumference of a Circle

The formula for the circumference of a circle is the product of pi (π) and the diameter or twice the product of pi (π) and the radius.

Example:
Find the circumference of the circle with a diameter of 8 inches.

Solution:

Step 1: Write down the formula:	C = πd
Step 2: Plug in the value:	C = 8π

Answer: The circumference of the circle is 8π ≈ 25.163 inches.

Example:
Find the circumference of the circle with a radius of 5 inches.

Solution:

Step 1: Write down the formula:	C = 2πr
Step 2: Plug in the value:	C = 10π

Answer: The circumference of the circle is 10π ≈ 31.42 inches.

Worksheet to calculate circumference of circle when given diameter or radius.

Worksheet to calculate circumference and area of circle when given diameter or radius.

How to find the circumference of a circle given the radius?

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How to find the circumference of a circle given the radius or the diameter?

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Find The Radius, Given The Circumference

From the formula C = 2πr, we see that we can find the radius of a circle by dividing its circumference by 2π.

The following video shows how to find the radius of a circle given its circumference.
Step 1: Find the circumference and substitute.
Step 2: Divide by π
Step 3: Divide by 2
Step 4: Write the units

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Find The Diameter, Given The Circumference

From the formula C = πd, we see that we can find the diameter of a circle by dividing its circumference by π.

Example: A circle has a circumference of 12 cm. Find the radius.

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Find The Area Of Circle, Given The Circumference

To find the area of a circle when given the circumference, we first use the circumference to find the radius. Then, we use the radius to find the area of the circle.

Worksheet on problems that involve the radius, diameter, circumference and area of circle.

Worksheet 1 on word problems that involve circles.

Worksheet 2 on word problems that involve circles.

How to find the area of a circle given the circumference?

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