How to Calculate Cylinder Volume and Surface Area? (+FREE Worksheet!)

In this blog post, you learn how to find the volume and surface area of cylinders by using the volume and surface area formula.

How to Calculate Cylinder Volume and Surface Area? (+FREE Worksheet!)
Tutor-style math help

Cylinder Surface Area and Volume: what to notice and how to work it

Geometry skill
Cylinder problems combine circle formulas with height. The circular base controls the area, and height stacks that base into volume.

What to notice first

Find the radius first. Cylinder volume is base area times height, and surface area includes both circular bases plus the curved side.

Common student mistake

Do not use diameter as radius. If the diameter is given, divide by 2 before using the formulas.

Key formulas and cues

\(V=\pi r^2h\)
\(SA=2\pi r^2+2\pi rh\)
\(d=2r\)
lengthwidth baseheight label the picture first

A reliable path

  1. Label the diagramWrite each given measurement on the figure.
  2. Choose the formulaMatch the formula to distance, midpoint, area, volume, or angle relationships.
  3. Check unitsUse linear, square, or cubic units as appropriate.

Worked examples

Find volume

Example: radius 3, height 10
  1. Use \(V=\pi r^2h\).
  2. Substitute r = 3 and h = 10.
  3. Compute \(9\cdot10\pi\).
Answer: \(90\pi\) cubic units

Use diameter

Example: diameter 8, height 5
  1. Radius is 4.
  2. Use \(V=\pi r^2h\).
  3. Compute \(16\cdot5\pi\).
Answer: \(80\pi\) cubic units
Try one before moving on
Try: Find cylinder volume when r = 2 and h = 7.
Answer: \(28\pi\) cubic units.
Next step: do the matching worksheet or quiz while the method is still fresh, then come back and explain the first step in your own words.
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Watch this practice video for additional examples and reinforcement:


Related Topics

Step by step guide to calculating Cylinders volume and surface area

  • A cylinder is a solid geometric figure with straight parallel sides and a circular or oval cross section.
  • Volume of Cylinder Formula \(= π\) (radius)\(^2 × \) height, \( π = 3.14\)
  • The surface area of a cylinder \(=2πr^2+2π\text{ rh }\)

For education statistics and research

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Cylinder Volume and Surface Area – Example 1:

Find the volume and Surface area of the follow Cylinder.

Solution:

Use volume formula: Volume \(= π\) (radius)\(^2 × \) height, \((r=2 \text{ cm }, h=8 \text{ cm }\))
Then: Volume \(=π(2)^2×8= 4π×8=32π\)
\(π=3.14\) then: Volume \(=32π=32 × 3.14 = 100.48\) \(\text{ cm }^3 \)
Use surface area formula: Surface area \(=2πr^2+2π\text{ rh }\)
Then: \(=2π(2)^2+2π(2)(8)=2π(4)+2π(16)=8π+32π=40π\)
\(π=3.14\) then: Surface area \(=40×3.14=125.6\) \(\text{ cm }^2\)

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Cylinder Volume and Surface Area – Example 2:

Find the volume and Surface area of the follow Cylinder.

Solution:

Use volume formula: Volume \(= π\) (radius)\(^2 × \) height, \((r=4 \text{ cm }, h=6 \text{ cm }\))
Then: Volume \(=π(4)^2×6= 16π×6=96π\)
\(π=3.14\) then: Volume \(=96π=96 × 3.14=301.44\) \(\text{ cm }^3 \)
Use surface area formula: Surface area \(=2πr^2+2π\text{ rh }\)
Then: \(=2π(4)^2+2π(4)(6)=2π(16)+2π(24)=32π+48π=80π\)
\(π=3.14\) then: Surface area \(=80×3.14=251.2\) \(\text{ cm }^2\)

Exercises for Calculating Cylinder Volume and Surface Area

Find the volume of each Cylinder. Round your answer to the nearest tenth. \((\pi=3.14)\)

Download Cylinder Worksheet

  1. \(\color{blue}{75.4 \ m^3}\)
  2. \(\color{blue}{1,130.4 \ m^3}\)
  3. \(\color{blue}{1,808.6 \ m^3}\)

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