EDEXCEL GCSE FOUNDATION MATHS - What is Circumference

Edexcel GCSE Foundation Maths - What is Circumference?

Introduction

The circumference of a circle is the distance around the outside of the circle. It's like the perimeter of a square or rectangle, but for a circle.

Formula for Circumference

The formula for calculating the circumference of a circle is:

Circumference = ?d 

Where:

• ? (pi) is a mathematical constant approximately equal to 3.14159.
• d is the diameter of the circle (the distance across the circle through the center).

Example

Let's say we have a circle with a diameter of 10 cm. To find the circumference, we can use the formula:

Circumference = ?d 
Circumference = ? * 10 cm
Circumference ? 3.14159 * 10 cm
Circumference ? 31.42 cm

Therefore, the circumference of the circle is approximately 31.42 cm.

Key Points

• Circumference is the distance around the outside of a circle.
• ? (pi) is a constant value used in many circle calculations.
• Diameter is the distance across the circle through the center.
• The formula for circumference is Circumference = ?d.

Practice Questions

1. Calculate the circumference of a circle with a diameter of 7 cm.
2. What is the circumference of a circle with a radius of 5 cm (remember the diameter is twice the radius)?

Summary

Understanding circumference is an essential part of GCSE Foundation Maths. By learning the formula and applying it to different examples, you can confidently calculate the distance around any circle.