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Area of rectangle 10 cm by 6 cm with a semicircle on the end

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Composite shapes · Geometry

Step by step

The question

Question: find the area of this shape: a 10 cm by 6 cm rectangle with a semicircle on one end.

1 Split into parts

This shape is made of simple shapes.

A dashed line splits off the round end.

The rectangle is 10 by 6.

The round end is a semicircle: half of a circle.

2 Area of each part

The rectangle: length times width.

10 times 6 is 60.

rectangle = 10 × 6 = 60 cm2

The semicircle sits on the end of the rectangle.

So its diameter is 6 cm.

The radius is half of it: 6 divided by 2 is 3.

r = 62 = 3

The semicircle is half of a circle.

A circle is π times r squared.

So we take half.

semicircle = 12 × π × 32

3² means 3 times 3.

That is 9.

32 = 3 × 3 = 9

So it is half of π times 9.

semicircle = 12 × π × 9

Half of 9 is 4.5.

We write it as 4.5π.

semicircle = 4.5π cm2

3 Add the parts

The whole area is the two parts added: 60 + 4.5π.

We keep π in the answer.

That is the exact answer.

A = 60 + 4.5π cm2

4 About how much

To see about how much, put 3.14 for π.

A ≈ 60 + 4.5 × 3.14

Forget the points: 45 times 314 is 14130.

Together, the numbers have 1 + 2 = 3 digits after the point.

So the answer has 3 too: 14.130, which is 14.13.

45 × 314 = 14130
1 + 2 = 3 digits after the point → 14.130

So we have 60 + 14.13.

A ≈ 60 + 14.13

60 plus 14.13 is 74.13.

So the area is about 74.13 cm².

A ≈ 74.13 cm2

5 Check

Let's check it makes sense.

The whole shape fits in a box 13 by 6: 78.

The area must be more than the rectangle alone: 60.

And less than the box: 78.

60 < 74.13 < 78

74.13 is between them.

So the answer makes sense!

Let's look back.

First: split into parts.

Then: area of each part.

Then: add the parts.

Then: about how much.

Last: check.

Answer
A ≈ 74.13 cm2

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

Find the area.
Show the answer
A ≈ 62.13 cm2

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