Final answer:
To find the surface area of the cylindrical aquarium, calculate the area of the two circular bases and the rectangle formed by the height and circumference of the cylinder. The sum of these areas, when rounded to the nearest tenth, is 102.1 square feet of glass.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the surface area of a cylindrical aquarium with a radius of 2.5 ft and a height of 4 ft. To calculate the surface area, we need to find the area of the two circular bases and the area of the rectangle formed by the height and circumference of the cylinder. The area of one circular base with a radius (r) is given by the formula πr², and the area of the rectangle (lateral surface) is the product of the height (h) and the circumference of the base, which is 2πr. Therefore, the total surface area (A) of the aquarium can be calculated by:
A = 2 * (π * (2.5 ft)²) + (2π * 2.5 ft * 4 ft)
Plugging in the values and simplifying, we find:
A = 2 * (π * 6.25 ft²) + (2π * 2.5 ft * 4 ft)
A = 2 * (19.635 ft²) + (2π * 10 ft)
A = 39.27 ft² + 62.83 ft²
A = 102.1 ft²
Therefore, 102.1 square feet of glass was used to build the cylindrical aquarium when rounded to the nearest tenth.