The radius of a circle is 8 cm . Find its area to the nearest whole number.

To find the area of a circle, you can use the formula \( A = \pi r^2 \). With a radius \( r \) of 8 cm, the calculation goes like this: \( A = \pi \times (8 \, \text{cm})^2 \) \( A = \pi \times 64 \, \text{cm}^2 \) Using \( \pi \approx 3.14 \), the area is approximately \( 3.14 \times 64 \approx 201.06 \, \text{cm}^2 \). So, rounding to the nearest whole number, the area is about 201 cm²! This simple circle area formula is not only useful in mathematics but also in designing things like circular gardens or tables. Knowing the area can help you figure out how much space you need for planting flowers or setting up a table at your next gathering—practical math in real life! When solving problems like this, a common mistake is forgetting to square the radius. Always remember: the formula involves squaring the radius first! Also, make sure to use an approximate value for π (like 3.14) correctly. Mixing those steps up can lead to errors in your final answer!