Question

Solve the problem.

The Bay area of California was shaken by an earthquake on October 17, 1989. The epicenter was located at Loma Prieta. The diameter of the earthquake's horizontal waves that shocked the area measured about 120 miles. How many square miles were affected by this earthquake?

Answer 1

As the shock waves travel in concentric outward circles from the epicenter, and the diameter is measured 120 miles,
area of a circle =πr*r

d=120
r=120/2r=6060*60=36003600*π=11309.734
11309.734 square miles