Problema Solution

The surface area of a sphere (A) varies directly as the square of the radius of the sphere. To cover a 4 inch diameter baseball, it takes about 50 square inches of leather. Find the model that relates surface area to the radius. Use it to find the surface area of a playground ball that has a 10 inch radius.

Answer provided by our tutors

The surface area of a sphere (A) varies directly as the square of the radius of the sphere


A = k*r^2, where k is a constant


To cover a 4 inch diameter baseball, it takes about 50 square inches of leather means that for r = 4 in, A = 50 in^2


k*4^2 = 50


k = 50/16


k = 25/8


A = (25/8)*r^2 is the model


for r = 10 in we have


A = (25/8)*10^2


A = 312.5 in^2