Effect of increasing circumference by 50%: If a circle’s circumference increases by 50%, by what percentage does its area increase?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 125%

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Area depends on radius squared, while circumference depends linearly on radius. A percentage change in circumference maps to the same percentage change in radius, and area responds quadratically.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • C = 2πr; A = πr^2
  • New circumference C′ = 1.5 * C → r′ = 1.5 * r


Concept / Approach:
Since r scales by 1.5, area scales by (1.5)^2 = 2.25. The fractional increase is 2.25 − 1 = 1.25 → 125% increase.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Scale factor for r: k = 1.5Area scale factor: k^2 = 2.25Percentage increase: (2.25 − 1) * 100% = 125%



Verification / Alternative check:
Take r = 2 → C ≈ 12.566; increase 50% → r′ = 3; A from ~12.566 to ~28.274, a rise of ~125%.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
50% confuses linear with area; 100% is doubling, not correct here; 225% is the final value vs. original, not the increase; 75% is arbitrary.



Common Pitfalls:
Not squaring the scale factor; mixing “increase to” vs. “increase by.”



Final Answer:
125%

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