How Do You Figure Out the Circumference of a Circle?
To find the circumference of a circle, multiply the diameter by pi or double the radius times pi. Pi is an unchanging number that rounds off to 3.14.
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Find the diameter
The diameter is the length across the circle directly through the center. You can measure it in whatever unit is appropriate, such as inches or centimeters. For the sake of an example, say the diameter of your circle is 2.5 inches.
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Multiply the diameter by pi
Multiply the number you have times pi. In the example, multiply 2.5 by pi. You can use the rounded off version of pi, 3.14, though most calculators have a button for the longer version of pi.
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Round off your answer
If you use your calculator’s pi button, you end up with an irrational number because pi is irrational, meaning it cannot be stated as a fraction and the decimal continues on into infinity. Therefore, you need to round off your answer. Two places after the decimal is usually sufficient. You look at the third number. If it is above 5, you round up, meaning you add one to the previous number. If it is below 5, you round down, meaning you keep the previous number the same. In this case, pi times 2.5 is 7.853. Because the third number is 3, you round down, leaving it 7.85.
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Add the unit
Add the unit you used to measure the diameter: 7.85 inches.
