Solution: Understanding the Circumference of the Smaller Circle

When studying geometry, one essential concept is the circumference of a circle. Whether you're solving for the curved distance around a circle or working with composite shapes, knowing how to calculate the circumference is fundamental. In this article, we focus on the specific case where the circumference of the smaller circle is given by—follow along to uncover the formula, key principles, and practical applications.

What Is Circumference?

Understanding the Context

Circumference refers to the total distance around the outer edge of a circle. Unlike the radius or diameter, it represents a full loop along the circle’s boundary. The standard formula for circumference applies to any circle:

[
C = 2\pi r
]

where:
- ( C ) is the circumference,
- ( \pi ) (pi) is a mathematical constant approximately equal to 3.1416,
- ( r ) is the radius of the circle.

But how does this apply when only the smaller circle’s circumference is provided?

Key Insights

Circumference of the Smaller Circle: Step-by-Step Solution

Since the circumference formula does not depend on the circle’s size—only its radius or diameter—it becomes straightforward once you know the measured circumference.

Step 1: Recognize Given Information
Suppose, for example, the circumference of the smaller circle is numerically given as:
[
C = 12.56 \ ext{ cm}
]
(Note: ( 2\pi \ imes 2 pprox 12.56 ) for radius ( r = 2 ) cm)

Step 2: Use the Circumference Formula
From the formula ( C = 2\pi r ), solve for ( r ):

[
r = rac{C}{2\pi}
]

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Final Thoughts

Substitute the known value:

[
r = rac{12.56}{2 \ imes 3.14} = rac{12.56}{6.28} = 2 \ ext{ cm}
]

Step 3: Confirm Circle Size and Identify Smaller Circle
This calculation reveals the radius of the smaller circle is 2 cm. If there is another (larger) circle, knowing that this is the smaller one helps in comparing areas, perimeters, or volumes in problems involving multiple circles.

Practical Application: Why This Matters

Understanding the circumference of the smaller circle supports many real-world and mathematical scenarios:

  • Engineering and Design: Determining material lengths needed for circular components.
    - Trigonometry and Astronomy: Measuring orbits or angular distances.
    - Education: Building intuition about circle properties and constants like ( \pi ).
    - Problem Solving: Helping isolate single-element relationships in composite figures.

Key Takeaways

  • The circumference formula ( C = 2\pi r ) applies universally to all circles.
    - Knowing either radius or diameter lets you compute circumference precisely.
    - When given the smaller circle’s circumference, solving for its radius enables further geometric analyses.
    - Circumference plays a critical role in both theoretical and applied spheres.

Final Summary

To summarize the solution:
Given the circumference of the smaller circle, use ( C = 2\pi r ) to solve for the radius, which directly gives the total curved length around its edge. This foundational skill supports a wide range of mathematical reasoning and real-life applications involving circular shapes.