Final answer:
To calculate the lateral surface area of a cone, use the formula L = πrl, with π roughly equal to 3.14, where r is the radius and l is the slant height. Measure the radius of the base and calculate or measure the slant height to use in this formula.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the lateral surface area of a cone, you need the slant height (l) and the radius (r) of the cone. The formula for the lateral surface area (L) is given by L = πrl, where π is approximately 3.14. This formula comes by envisioning unrolling the cone's lateral surface and recognizing that it approximates a sector of a circle whose arc length is the circumference of the base of the cone and radius is the slant height of the cone.
Here is a step-by-step method to calculate it:
- Measure the radius (r) of the cone's base.
- Calculate the cone's slant height (l) using the Pythagorean theorem if needed.
- Use the formula L = πrl to calculate the lateral surface area.