A right circular cylinder has radius $3$ and height $6.5$. What is its total surface area (including both circular bases and the lateral surface)?
A$18 \pi$
B$39 \pi$
C$58.5 \pi$
D$57 \pi$
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. $57 \pi$
The total surface area of a right circular cylinder is the sum of three pieces — two congruent circular bases (each $\pi r^{2}$) and one lateral surface ($2 \pi r h$):
$A = 2(\pi r^{2}) + 2 \pi r h$.
With $r = 3$, $h = 6.5$:
- Two bases: $2 \pi (3^{2}) = 18 \pi$.
- Lateral: $2 \pi (3)(6.5) = 39 \pi$.
- Total: $18 \pi + 39 \pi = 57 \pi$.
- Trap A ($18 \pi$) counts only the two bases and forgets the side.
- Trap B ($39 \pi$) counts only the lateral surface and forgets the two ends.
- Trap D ($58.5 \pi$) returns the **volume** of the same cylinder.
Key check: the lateral surface area $2 \pi r h$ is just the circumference of the base ($2 \pi r$) times the height — i.e. the area of the rectangle you'd get by 'unrolling' the side of the cylinder flat.
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