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What is the Area of Circle?
Definition
The area of a circle is the amount of space enclosed by the circle. It is used to determine how much space is occupied within the circumference of the circle. The formula for calculating the area of a circle is:
A = πr2
where:
- A is the area of the circle,
- π is the mathematical constant pi (approximately 3.14159), and
- r is the radius of the circle.
It is measured in square units.
Formula
The syntax for calculating the area of circle in Excel will be –
= PI()*r^2
The PI function in Excel returns the mathematical constant π (pi). It represents the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The value of pi is approximately 3.14159.
To get the value of PI in Excel, you need to enter the function without any arguments.
Click here to learn all about the PI function in Excel.
How to Calculate Area of Circle
Use Exponential Sign
Imagine you have a circular table, and you want to know how much cloth is needed to cover it completely. The radius of the table is mentioned in cell A2 i.e. 3 feet.
STEP 1: Enter the PI function.
STEP 2: Enter the multiplication sign (*).
STEP 3: Select the cell containing the radius of the circle. Here, it is cell A2.
STEP 4: Enter the exponential sign (^).
STEP 5: Enter the number 2.
The area of the circle with a radius of 3 feet will be displayed in the cell. The value is 28.27 sq. ft.
Use Power Function
The POWER function in Excel is used to raise a number to a specified power. The syntax for the POWER function is as follows –
=POWER(number, power)
- number – This is the base number you want to raise to a power.
- power – This is the exponent to which you want to raise the base number.
STEP 1: Enter the PI function.
STEP 2: Enter the multiplication sign (*).
STEP 3: Enter the POWER function.
STEP 4: Enter the first argument of the POWER function i.e. number. Here, it is the radius of the circle mentioned in cell A2.
STEP 5: Enter the second argument of the POWER function i.e. power. Here, it is 2.
This function will return the area of the circle with radius of 3 ft.
FAQs
1. What is the formula to calculate the area of a circle in Excel?
You can use =PI()*r^2, where r is the radius. This formula gives the area of the circle in square units.
2. Can I use the POWER function instead of the ^ operator?
Yes. Use =PI()*POWER(radius,2). Both methods return the same result.
3. What does the PI function do in Excel?
It returns the value of pi (3.14159). You do not need to type the value manually.
4. Do I need to enter the radius or the diameter?
The formula uses the radius. If you only have the diameter, divide it by 2 before using the formula.
5. What units does the result use?
The area is returned in square units, such as square feet or square meters. The unit depends on the unit used for the radius.
John Michaloudis is a former accountant and finance analyst at General Electric, a Microsoft MVP since 2020, an Amazon #1 bestselling author of 4 Microsoft Excel books and teacher of Microsoft Excel & Office over at his flagship MyExcelOnline Academy Online Course.
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