Calculating the Surface Area of a Cylinder:

1. Identify the parts: Look at the cylinder and identify its key components – the circular base, the curved side, also known as the lateral surface, and the circular top.

2. Calculate the area of the base: Measure the radius (the distance from the center of the base to any point on the edge) of the circular base. To find the area of the base, square the radius (multiply it by itself) and then multiply it by π (pi), which is approximately 3.14. The formula is: Area of the base = π × radius².

3. Calculate the area of the lateral surface: Measure the height (the distance between the two bases) of the cylinder. The lateral surface is like a rectangle that has been curved around to form a tube shape. To calculate its area, find the circumference of the base (the distance around the circular edge) by multiplying 2π (pi) by the radius. Then, multiply the circumference by the height. The formula is: Area of the lateral surface = 2π × radius × height.

4. Add up the areas: Once you have found the areas of the base (and the top) and the lateral surface, add them together to get the total surface area of the cylinder.

Remember, surface area represents the sum of all the areas of the faces of a 3D shape. For a cylinder, it includes the area of the circular base and the curved lateral surface. By breaking down the cylinder into its individual parts and calculating their areas, we can find the surface area. Keep practicing, and you’ll become a surface area expert in no time!