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Overview
Mathematics at Work 11
Measurement
1. Solve problems involving SI and imperial units in surface area measurements and verify solutions
1.4 Surface area and volume of cylinders
Surface Area of a Cylinder
The surface area of a cylinder equals its two circular bases plus its curved lateral surface.
What You'll Learn
Surface area of a cylinder: SA = 2 pi r squared + 2 pi r h (two circles plus the curved side).
Unrolled, the curved side becomes a rectangle with width equal to the circumference.
Volume of a cylinder: V = pi r squared times h.
Lateral surface area (curved side only, no circles) is 2 pi r h.
A cylinder's volume has no one-third factor since its cross-section is constant.
What You'll Practice
1
Finding surface area and volume of complete cylinders given radius and height
2
Calculating measurements for half-cylinders in composite shapes
3
Computing total surface area by adding rectangular and cylindrical components
4
Solving problems with mixed units and converting diameter to radius
Why This Matters
Cylinder calculations are essential for real-world applications like designing storage tanks, calculating material needs for construction, and determining capacity in engineering. You'll use these formulas in physics, chemistry, and any field involving three-dimensional objects.
Before You Start — Make Sure You Can:
This Unit Includes
2 Video lessons
Learning resources
Skills
Surface Area
Volume
Cylinders
Composite Solids
Geometric Formulas
Radius and Diameter
3D Geometry

NS Curriculum Aligned