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Area of a Circle: Formula, Derivation, Examples

Last Updated : 15 Oct, 2024
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Area of a Circle is the measure of the two-dimensional space occupied by a circle. It is mostly calculated by the size of the circle’s radius which is the distance from the center of the circle to any point on its edge. The area of a circle is proportional to the radius of the circle.

Area of Circle = Area of Circle = πr2, where r is radius, d is diameter and value of π is 22/7.

In this article, we will learn how to find the area of the circle using the formulas, with the help of examples.

Area of a Circle Definition

The area of a circle is the amount of space enclosed by the circular shape. It is the total region occupied by the circle within its boundaries.

The area of the circle is calculated using the formula,

Area of Circle = πr2

Area of Circle = πd2 / 4

Where,

  • r is radius,
  • d is diameter, and
  • π = 22/7 or 3.14
Area-of-Circle

Area of a Circle

Area of circle formula is useful for measuring areas of circular fields or plots. It is also useful to measure the area covered by circular furniture and other circular objects.

Parts of Circle

Circle is a closed curve in which all the points are equidistant from one fixed point i.e. centre. Examples of circles as seen in everyday life are clocks, wheels, pizzas, etc.

Area of Circle Illustration

Illustration of Circle and its Parts

Radius

The distance of a point from the boundary of the circle to its centre is termed its radius. Radius is represented by the letter ‘r‘ or ‘R‘. The area and circumference of a circle are directly dependent on its area.

Diameter

Longest chord of a circle that passes through its centre is termed its diameter. It is always twice its radius.

Diameter formula: The formula for the diameter of a circle is Diameter = 2 × Radius

d = 2×r or D = 2×R

also, conversely, the radius can be calculated as:

r = d/2 or R = D/2

Circumference

The circumference of the circle is the total length of its boundary i.e. perimeter of a circle is termed its circumference. The Circumference of a circle is given by the formula C = 2πr.

Area-of-Circle-1

Circumference of Circle

Area of Circle Formulas

The formula for finding an area of a circle is directly proportional to the square of its radius. It can also be found out if the diameter or circumference of a circle is given. Area of a circle is calculated by multiplying the square of the radius by π.

Area of Circle with Radius

Area = πr2

where, 

r is the radius and π is the constant value

Example: If the length of the radius of a circle is 3 units. Calculate its area.

Solution:

We know that radius r = 3 units

So by using the formula: Area = πr2

r = 3, π = 3.14

Area = 3.14 × 3 × 3 = 28.26

Therefore, the area of the circle is 28.26 units2

Area of Circle in Terms of Diameter

The diameter of a circle is double the length of the radius of the circle, i.e. 2r.

The area of the circle can also be found using its diameter

Area = (π/4) × d2  

where, 
d is the diameter of the circle.

Example: If the length of the diameter of a circle is 8 units. Calculate its area.

Solution:

We know that diameter = 8 units

so by using the formulas: Area = (π/4) × d2  

d = 8, π = 3.14

Area = (3.14 /4) × 8 × 8 
        = 50.24 unit 2

Thus, the area of the circle is 50.24 units2

Area of a Circle Using Circumference

The circumference is defined as the length of the complete arc of a circle.

Area  = C2/4π

where, 
C is the circumference

Example: If the circumference of the circle is 4 units. Calculate its area.

Solution:

We know that circumference of the circle = 4 units (given)

so by using the above formulae:

C = 4, π = 3.14

Area = 4 × 4 / (4 × 3.14) 
        = 1.273 unit2

Therefore, the area of the circle is 1.273 unit2

Area of Circle Derivation

Area of a circle can be visualized and proved using two methods, namely

  • Circle Area Using Rectangles
  • Circle Area Using Triangles

Circle Area Using Rectangles

Area of the Circle is derived by the method discussed below. For finding the area of a circle the diagram given below is used,

Circle Area Derivation Using Rectangles

Derivation of Circle Area Using Rectangles

After studying the above figure carefully, we split the circle into smaller parts and arranged them in such a way that they form a parallelogram.

If the circle is divided into small and smaller parts, at last, it takes the shape of a rectangle.

Area of Rectangle = length × breadth

Comparing the length of a rectangle and the circumference of a circle we can see that,

the length is = ½ the circumference of a circle

Length of a rectangle = ½ × 2πr = πr

Breadth of a rectangle = radius of a circle = r

Area of circle = Area of rectangle = πr × r = πr2

Area of the circle = πr2

Where r is the radius of the circle.

Circle Area Using Triangles

The area of the circle can easily be calculated by using the area of triangle. For finding the area of the circle using the area of the triangle consider the following experiment.

  • Let us take a circle with a radius of r and fill the circle with concentric circles till no space is left inside the circle.
  • Now cut open each concentric circle and arrange them in a triangular shape such that the shortest length circle is placed at the top and the length is increased gradually.

The figure so obtained is a triangle with base 2πr and height r as shown in the figure given below,

Circle Area Derivation Using Triangles

Thus the area of the circle is given as,

A = 1/2 × base × height

A = 1/2 × (2πr) × r

A = πr2

Area of a Sector of Circle

Area of a sector of a circle is the space occupied inside a sector of a circle’s border. A semi-circle is likewise a sector of a circle, where a circle has two equal-sized sectors.

Area of a sector of a circle formula is given below:

A = (θ/360°) × πr2

where,
θ is the sector angle subtended by the arcs at the center (in degrees),
r is the radius of the circle.

Area of Quadrant of circle

A quadrant of a circle is the fourth part of a circle. It is the sector of a circle with an angle of 90°. So its area is given by the above formula

A = (θ/360°) × πr2

Area of Quadrant = (90°/360°) × πr2
               = πr2 / 4

Difference Between Area and Circumference of Circle

The basic difference between the area and the circumference of the circle is discussed in the table below,

 

Circumference (C)

Area (A)

Definition The length of the boundary of the circle is called the circumference of the circle.  The total space occupied by the boundary of the circle is called the area of the circle.
Formula C = 2πr  A = πr2
Units Circumference is measured in m, cm, etc. Area is measured in m2, cm2
Radius Dependence Radius is directly proportional to the circumference of the circle. Area is directly proportional to the square of the radius of the circle.
Diameter Dependence Diameter is directly proportional to the circumference of the circle. Area is directly proportional to the square of the diameter of the circle.

Circle Real World Examples

We come across various examples which resemble circular shapes in our daily life.

Some of the most common examples of the real-life circular things which we observe in our daily life are shown in the image below.

Circle Real Life Examples

Read More:

Area of Circle Examples

Let’s solve some example questions on the area of circle concepts and formulas you learnt so far :

Example 1: A large rope is in a circular shape. Its radius is 5 units. What is its area?

Solution:

A large rope is in circular shape means it is similar to circle, so we can use circle formulae to calculate the area of the large rope.

given, r = 5 units, π = 3.14

Area = 3.14 × 5 × 5
        =  78.50 unit2

Thus, the area of the circle is 78.50 units2

Example 2: If the rope is in a circular shape and its diameter is 4 units. Calculate its area.

Solution:

We know that rope is in circular shape, and its diameter = 4 units
π = 3.14

Area = (3.14 /4) × 4 × 4 
        = 12.56 units2

Therefore, the area of the rope is 12.56 units2

Example 3: If the circumference of the circle is 8 units. Calculate its area.

Solution:

Circumference of the circle = 8 units (given)

π = 3.14

Area = 8 × 8 / (4 × 3.14) 
        = 5.09 units2

Therefore, the area of the circle is 5.09 units2

Example 4: Find the circumference and the area of the circle if the radius is 21 cm.

Solution:

 Radius, r = 21 cm

 Circumferencer of the circle = 2πr cm.

Now, substituting the value, we get

C = 2  × (22/7)× 21
C = 2×22×3
C = 132 cm

Thus, circumference of the circle is 132 cm.

Now, area of the circle = πr2 cm2

A = (22/7) × 21 × 21
A = 22 × 63
A = 1386 cm2 

Thus, area of the circle is 1386 cm2 

Example 5: Find the area of the quadrant of a circle if its radius is 14 cm.

Solution:

Given r = 14 cm, π = 22 / 7

Area of quadrant =  πr2 / 4
                            = 22 / 7 × 142 × 1/4
                            = 154 cm2

Thus, the required area of quadrant = 154 cm2

Example 6: Find the area of the sector of a circle that subtends 60° angle at the center, and its radius is 14 cm.

Solution:

Given r = 14 cm, π = 22 / 7

Area of sector = (θ/360°) × πr2 
                       = (60° /  360°) × 22 / 7 × 142
                       = 102.67 cm2

Thus, the required area of quadrant = 102.67 cm2

Area of Circle Worksheet

Here are some practice problems on the area of circle formulas for you to solve :

1. What is the area of a circle of radius 7 cm?

2. The diameter of a circle is 7 cm. Find its area.

3. Determine the area of circle in terms of pi, if radius = 6 cm.

4. Calculate the area of a circle if its circumference is 88 cm

Area of Circle – FAQs

How to find the area of circle?

Area of a circle can be determined by using the formulas:

  • Area = π x r2, where, r is radius of circle
  • Area = (π/4) x d2,where, d is diameter of circle
  • Area = C2/4π, where, C is circumference of circle

Write the formula for circumference of a circle.

Circumference of circle is the boundary of the circle. Circumference can be calculated by multiplying the radius of circle with twice π. i.e. Circuference = 2πr.

What is area of circle in terms of diameter ?

The formula of the area of the circle, using the diameter of the circle is π/4 × diameter2.

What is area of circle when the circumference is given?

When circumference of the circle is given then its area is calculated easily using the formula,

Area = C2/4π

where, C is the circumference of the circle



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