EXAMPLE 2.6.6

Which is larger: a square cake pan that measures 8 inches on each side, or a circular cake pan with a diameter of 9 inches?

SOLUTION

The size of a two-dimensional object corresponds to its area.

The area of the square cake pan is:

Area = LW = (8 inches)(8 inches) = 64 sq. in.

The radius of the circular cake pan is 4.5 inches (half of its diameter), so the area of the circular cake pan is:

Although the two pans are nealry the same size, the cake pan is slightly larger.