Formula Area of a Cylinder

This page examines the properties of a right circular cylinder. A cylinder has a radius (r) and a height (h) (see picture below).

This shape is similar to a can. The surface area is the area of the top and bottom circles (which are the same), and the area of the rectangle (label that wraps around the can)

The picture below illustrates how the formula for the area of a cylinder is simply the sum of the areas of the top and bottom circles plus the area of a rectangle. This rectangle is what the cylinder would look like if we 'unraveled' it.


Below is a picture of the general formula for area

What is the area of the cylinder with a radius of 2 and a height of 6?

Answer

Use the formula for the area of a cylinder as shown below.

What is the area of the cylinder with a radius of 3 and a height of 5?

Answer

Use the formula for the area of a cylinder .

What is the area of the cylinder with a radius of 6 and a height of 7?

Answer

Use the area of a cylinder formula .