Base Area of a Cylinder – Definition, Formula, Examples, FAQs

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What Is the Base Area of a Cylinder?

The base area of a cylinder is the area of its circular base. If the radius of the circular base is r units, then the base area of cylinder is $\pi r^{2}$. 

A cylinder is a geometric solid or a 3D shape with a curved surface and two circular bases.

Parts of a cylinder - base, top, curved surface

Base Area of Cylinder: Definition

The amount of space occupied by a flat circular surface lying at the bottom of the cylinder is known as the base area of the cylinder. The base of the cylinder is the circle. Hence, the base area of the cylinder is the area of the circle. 

Base Area of Cylinder Formula

If “r” represents the radius of the circular base of the cylinder, then the base area of the cylinder is nothing but the area of a circle with radius “r.” 

Area of a circle with radius $r = \pi r^{2}$. 

Thus, the formula for the base area of cylinder is 

Base Area of a Cylinder $= \pi r^{2}$

Base area of cylinder formula

How to Find the Base Area of a Cylinder

Let’s understand how to find the area of the base of a cylinder.

Step 1: Note down the radius “r” of the given cylinder. If the diameter is given, divide it by 2 to find the radius.

Step 2: Substitute the value of “r” in the formula for finding the base area of the cylinder, given by

Base area of the cylinder $= \pi r^{2}$

Step 3: Assign the appropriate unit. Area is measured in square units.

Example: Find the area of the base of the cylinder with radius 7 feet.

Let radius $(r) = 7$ feet

Applying the formula, we get

Area $= \pi r^{2} = \frac{22}{7} \times 7 \times 7 = 154$ square feet

Using Base Area of Cylinder to Find Surface Area and Volume

The base area is commonly used to find the volume of solids like prisms, pyramids, etc. The volume of a 3D shape is generally calculated by multiplying the base area by its height. Let’s understand how to use the base area of the cylinder to calculate the total surface area and volume of the cylinder.

Surface Area of a Cylinder

The total surface area of a cylinder is the sum of the two circular bases and the curved surface area.

Base area of cylinder $= \pi r^{2}$

Thus, area of two circular bases $= 2\pi r^{2}$

Curved surface area $= 2\pi rh$

Total Surface Area $= 2 \pi rh + 2 \pi r^{2} = 2\pi r(r + h)$

Volume of a Cylinder

The volume of the cylinder is the total space occupied by the cylinder, which is the product of the base area and height.

$\text{Volume} = \text{Base area} \times \text{Height}$

Volume $= \pi r^{2} \times h$

Volume $= \pi r^{2}h$

Circumference of the Base of a Cylinder

The circumference of the base of the cylinder can be defined as the circumference of the circle at the base of the cylinder. It is the length of the boundary of the circular base. 

Circumference of the base of a cylinder

Formula for Circumference of Base of Cylinder

The formula for calculating the circumference of the base of the cylinder with radius r is the same as the circumference of the circle with radius r.

Circumference of the base of the circle $= 2\pi r$

(If the curved surface area of the cylinder is given, we can find the circumference of the base of the circle by dividing the curved surface area by the height of the cylinder.)

Facts about Base Area of a Cylinder

  • The base area of an elliptical cylinder is the area of the ellipse at the base of the cylinder. It is given by ab, where a is the semi-major axis, and b is the semi-minor axis.
  • The base area of the hollow cylinder is the area of the circular ring at its base. It is given by $(\pi R^{2} \;–\; \pi r^{2}) = \pi (R^{2} \;–\; r^{2})$, where R is the outer radius, and r is the inner radius.

Conclusion

In this article, we learned how to find the base area of a cylinder. We also learned how to use the base area of a cylinder to find the surface area and volume of a cylinder. Let’s solve a few examples and practice problems.

Solved Examples on Base Area of a Cylinder

1. If the radius of the cylinder is 0.07 inches, what will be the base area?

Solution: 

Radius (r) $= 0.07$ inches

Base Area $= \pi r^{2}$

      $= \frac{22}{7} \times 0.07 \times 0.07$

       $= 0.0154$ square inches

2. Find the radius of the cylinder if the base area is 346.5 square units.

Solution: 

Let radius be r units.

Base Area $= \pi r^{2}$ 

$346.5 = \frac{22}{7} \times r^{2}$

$r^{2} = \frac{346.5 \times 7}{22}$

$r^{2} = 110.25$

$r = 10.5$ inches

3. The circumference of the base of the cylinder is 88 feet. Find the base area of the cylinder.

Solution: 

Circumference of the base of the cylinder $= 2r

$88 = 2 \times \frac{22}{7} \times r$

$r = \frac{88 \times 7}{2 \times 22}$ 

$r = 2 \times 7$

$r = 14$ feet

Base Area $= \pi r^{2} = \frac{22}{7} \times 14 \times 14 = 616$ square feet

4. The total surface area of the cylinder is 880 square inches. The curved surface area of the cylinder is 572 square inches. Find the base area.

Solution: 

Total Surface Area of the cylinder $= 880$ square inches

Curved Surface Area of the cylinder $= 572$ square inches

Total Surface Area $=$ Curved Surface Area $+$ (2 Base Area)

$880 = 572 + $(2 Base Area)

2 Base Area $= 880 \;–\; 572$

2 Base Area $= 308$

Base Area $= \frac{308}{2} = 154$ square inches

5. What is the base area of the given cylinder?

Cylinder with radius 3.5 units

Solution: 

Radius $= r = 3.5$ units

Base Area $= \pi r^{2}$

Base Area $= \pi r^{2} = \frac{22}{7} \times 3.5 \times 3.5$

Base Area $= 38.5$ square units

Practice Problems on Base Area of a Cylinder

Base Area of a Cylinder - Definition, Formula, Examples, FAQs

Attend this quiz & Test your knowledge.

1

If the radius of the cylinder is 1 inch, what will be the base area?

22 square inches
3.14 square inches
6.28 square inches
50.4 square inches
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: 3.14 square inches
Radius $(r) = 1$ inch
Base Area $= \pi r^{2} = \frac{22}{7} \times 1 \times 1 \approx 3.14$ square inches
2

Find the radius of the cylinder if the base area is 1386 square feet.

21 feet
14 feet
7 feet
49 feet
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: 21 feet
Let radius be r inches.
Base Area $= \pi r^{2}$
$1386 = \frac{22}{7} \times r^{2}$
$r^{2} = \frac{1386 \times 7}{22} = 441$
$r = 21$feet
3

The base area of a cylinder with radius “r” is given by

$2\pi r^{2}$
$2\pi r$
$\pi r^{2}$
$\pi r^{2}h$
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: $\pi r^{2}$
Base area of a cylinder with radius “r” $=\pi r^{2}$
4

Find the base area of the cylinder if the volume is 440 cubic inches and height is 22 inches.

11 square inches
16 square inches
18 square inches
20 square inches
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: 20 square inches
Volume $= 440$ cubic inches
Height $= 22$ inches
Volume $=$ Base Area $\times$ Height
$440 =$ Base Area $\times 22$ Base Area $= \frac{440}{22} = 20$ square inches
5

A cylinder has a base area of 153.86 square inches. Find the radius of the cylinder $(\pi = 3.14)$.

0.7 inches
14 inches
7 inches
1.4 inches
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: 7 inches
Base Area $= 153.86$ square inches
$\pi r^{2} = 153.86$
$3.14 \times r^{2} = 153.86$
$r^{2} = 49$
$r = 7$ in

Frequently Asked Questions about the Base Area of a Cylinder

The base of a cuboid is a rectangle. The formula for the base area of the cuboid is Length $\times$ Breadth.

The base of a cube is a square. The formula for the base area of the cuboid is Side ✕ Side.

If the circular base of the cone and the circular base of the cylinder have the same radius, then the base area of a cone equals the base area of a cylinder.

The base area of the cylinder will become four times if the radius gets doubled.

Original radius $= r$

Original base area of cylinder $= \pi r^{2}$  

New radius $= 2r$

New base area of cylinder $= \pi (2r^{2}) = 4\pi r^{2}$

The base area of the cylinder will become one-fourth times the original area if the radius is half the original radius.

The area of the base of a cylinder is the area of the circle at the base of the cylinder. It is given by $\pi r^{2}$, where r is the radius of the cylinder.