Physics Homework: Calculating the Area of a Large Square with a Circle Inside

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the area of a large square containing a circle with an area of 47.4 cm². The initial attempts involved using the distance formula and equating results to find the value of 'a', which represents a unit length. After some confusion regarding the calculations, the correct approach was clarified, leading to the conclusion that the area of the square is approximately 195.539 cm². Participants emphasized the importance of correctly identifying the dimensions and relationships between the circle and square. Ultimately, the correct calculations were confirmed, resolving the initial uncertainties.
BraindeadX64
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Homework Statement



The circle inside the large square below has an area of 47.4 cm2.

[URL]http://tinyurl.com/PhysicsSquare[/URL]

Calculate the area of the large square. Note that the circle passes right through a number of grid intersection points.Heres the help the professor gave

[URL]http://tinyurl.com/PhysicsSquare2[/URL]

Homework Equations



C^2 = A^2 + B^2

D= sqrt(x^2 + b^2)

D = 2sqrt(A/pi)

The Attempt at a Solution



4a tall and 1a long

1st attempt.

d = sqrt((1a)^2 + (4a)^2)
d = sqrt(1a + 16a)
d= sqrt(17a)

2nd attempt
d=2sqrt(47.4/pi)
d= 7.77

stuck here I am not sure what else to do
 
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any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
What is D?
 
cupid.callin said:
What is D?

distance formula for diameter
 
well i haven/t checked your eqn but from the 2 results you got,,, equate them

you get 17a = 7.772
find a

now you know that area of large Square is 81a2

substitute a
 
cupid.callin said:
well i haven/t checked your eqn but from the 2 results you got,,, equate them

you get 17a = 7.772
find a

now you know that area of large Square is 81a2

substitute a

well those answers i got were different numbers for radius and it doesn't make any sense to me
 
the diameter is sqrt(17a), i just can't figure out how to get a by itself so i can do 81 * a^2 for the area of the grid
 
figured it out

a = 7.77cm / (sqrt (17) = 1.88cm

Area of the box = (9a*9a) =81a^2 =81*(1.88)^2 = 286.3 cm^2
 
BraindeadX64 said:
figured it out

a = 7.77cm / (sqrt (17) = 1.88cm

Area of the box = (9a*9a) =81a^2 =81*(1.88)^2 = 286.3 cm^2
Uh, no.

Area of a circle is A = \pi r^2[/tex] and r = D/2 so, A = \pi D^2/4[/tex]<br /> <br /> but D^2 = x^2 + y^2 = (4a)^2 + (3a)^2 = 16a^2 + 9a^2 = 25a^2[/tex], therefore<br /> <br /> A = \frac{25a^2 \pi}{4} = 47.4 ~ cm^2<br /> <br /> Simplifying, we get<br /> <br /> a^2 = \frac{4 (47.4 ~ cm^2)}{25 \pi} = \frac{189.6 ~ cm^2}{25 \pi} = \frac{7.584}{\pi} ~ cm^2<br /> <br /> Area of the square is then<br /> <br /> 81a^2 = 81 \cdot \frac{7.584}{\pi} ~ cm^2 = \frac{614.304}{\pi} ~ cm^2 \approx 195.539 ~ cm^2
 
  • #10
zgozvrm said:
Uh, no.

Area of a circle is A = \pi r^2[/tex] and r = D/2 so, A = \pi D^2/4[/tex]<br /> <br /> but D^2 = x^2 + y^2 = (4a)^2 + (3a)^2 = 16a^2 + 9a^2 = 25a^2[/tex], therefore<br /> <br /> A = \frac{25a^2 \pi}{4} = 47.4 ~ cm^2<br /> <br /> Simplifying, we get<br /> <br /> a^2 = \frac{4 (47.4 ~ cm^2)}{25 \pi} = \frac{189.6 ~ cm^2}{25 \pi} = \frac{7.584}{\pi} ~ cm^2<br /> <br /> Area of the square is then<br /> <br /> 81a^2 = 81 \cdot \frac{7.584}{\pi} ~ cm^2 = \frac{614.304}{\pi} ~ cm^2 \approx 195.539 ~ cm^2
<br /> <br /> those numbers are for the example not the circle at the top, my online submittion says it was right soo yeah.
 
  • #11
My bad!

I didn't notice the circles were different and focused on the second one.
Your answer is correct.
 

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