#  >> K-12 >> Elementary School

How to Find the Radius Between Two Points

The radius of a circle, sphere, or polygon is the length of the line from the center of the object to any point on its edge. Use the following formulas to calculate a radius.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Calculator
  • Scientific calculator (for polygons)
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Instructions

  1. Find a Circle's Radius, Where Area Is Known

    • 1

      Set up the equation so the area ("a") equals πr2 (i.e., pi x r squared). This puts the equation in a solvable format in order to determine the radius ("r").

    • 2

      Divide both sides of the equation by π (pi). This will have you dividing "a" by 3.14 and will cancel out π on the other side.

    • 3

      Solve for "r" by taking the square root of both sides of the equation. The number you have determined by dividing "a" by π will be the squared amount of "r." By calculating the square root, you will be left with "r" -- the radius.

    Find a Circle's Radius, Where Circumference Is Known

    • 4

      Set up the equation so that the circumference ("c") equals 2πr (i.e., 2 x pi x r). This leaves you with an equation that you can solve for "r."

    • 5

      Divide both sides of the equation by 2. This will leave you with πr on one side and a number on the other side.

    • 6

      Divide both sides of the equation by π (3.14) to eliminate π on one side. You will now have "r" on one side and a number on the other. The number is the radius.

    Find a Sphere's Radius, Where Area Is Known

    • 7

      Set up the equation so that the surface area equals 4πr2 (i.e., 4 x pi x r squared) and solve for "r."

    • 8

      Divide both sides by 4, which will leave you with "πr2" on one side. Now divide both sides by π (3.14).

    • 9

      Take the square root of both sides of the equation, which will leave you with the radius of the sphere.

    Find a Polygon's Radius

    • 10

      Set up the equation so that the radius equals the length of any side divided by (2sin x (π/the number of sides). This makes solving for the radius a matter of working with the formula.

    • 11

      Determine the length of the side to fill in the top of the right side of the equation.

    • 12

      Divide π by the number of sides. For example, a pentagon has five sides so you would divide 3.14 by 5. Multiple this answer by sin and by 2.

    • 13

      Take the length of the side and divide it by the total you received when you worked the entire 2sin x (π/the number of sides). This gives you the radius between the two points.

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