Dictionary Definition
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the circumference as "the curved line which forms the boundary of a circle."Examples of the Circumference
The circle below has a circumference of 20 cm. This is the distance around the circle.
The circle below has a circumference of 12 inches.
How to Find the Circumference
The circumference of a circle is related to its radius and diameter.How to Find the Circumference from the Radius
The circumference is the radius multiplied by 2π. If the circumference is C and the radius is r (as shown in the image below), then we can find the circumference using the formula:
how to find the circumference using the radius
How to Find the Circumference from the Diameter
The circumference is the diameter multiplied by π. If the circumference is C and the diameter is d (as shown in the image below), then we can find the circumference using the formula:
how to find the circumference using the diameter
Interactive Widget
Here is an interactive widget to help you learn about the circumference.What Is a Circle?
A circle is a shape containing a set of points that are the same radius from the center of the circle.Circumference and the Circle
In everyday language, the circumference is used to refer to the boundary of the circle (that is the curved blue line).
Technically, the circle is defined as the boundary (the curved blue line).
The circumference is the distance around the boundary.
This page was written by Stephen Clarke.
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