Running head: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CIRCUMFERENCE AND DIAMETER

The Relationship between Circumference and Diameter Clayton D. Wikoff Taft College

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CIRCUMFERENCE AND DIAMETER

Abstract --In Progress--

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CIRCUMFERENCE AND DIAMETER

Figure #1
Figure #1,a Introduction The motivation for this experiment is to discover whether or not there is a relationship between the circumference and the diameter of a circle. My hypothesis is that there is a relationship between the circumference and diameter of circular objects. Methods Figure #1,b To collect my data, I gathered ten different circular items. Figure #1 shows an example of my measurement process. To find the diameter, I used a ruler to measure across the center of a flat base of each item (shown in Figure #1,a). In order to find the circumference, I wrapped a string around the perimeter of each circular Figure #1,c item, and marked the connecting point with a pencil (Figure #1,b). I then stretched the string out on a ruler and measured the length of the string to the pencil mark (Figure #1,c). The population of interest was formed by the total collection of 391 items from every student who likewise found the circumference and diameter of various objects. To find my sample, I then used a TI-84 calculator to take a simple random sample of 25 items from the total collection of data. With my sample data set of 25 values, I calculated the ratio of

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CIRCUMFERENCE AND DIAMETER circumference divided by diameter. To get a variety of view points on the ratio, I constructed several graphs and charts (Figures 2-5). Result

Figure #2
12 10 Frequency 8 6 10 4 2 0
8.3333% 16.6667% 41.6667

29.1667%

4
0
3.1<x<3.2 3.2<x<3.4 3.4<x<3.5 3.5<x<3.7

4.1667%

2
2.9<x<3.1

1
3.7<x<3.9

2.9<x<3.1 3.1<x<3.2

3.2<x<3.4 3.4<x<3.5 3.5<x<3.7 Ratio

3.7<x<3.9

Figure #3
Cl a s s 2.8889<x<3.0532 3.0532<x<3.2176 3.2176<x<3.3819 3.3819<x<3.5463 3.5463<x<3.7106 3.7106<x<3.875 tota l Frequency 2 10 7 4 0 1 24 Rel a ti ve Frequency 0.083333333 0.416666667 0.291666667 0.166666667 0 0.041666667 1 Cumul a ti ve Frequency 2 12 19 23 23 24 Cumul a ti ve Rel a ti ve Frequency 0.083333333 0.5 0.791666667 0.958333333 0.958333333 1

Results It seems that there is, in fact, a relationship between the circumference and diameter. As can be seen in Figure #2, the ratio of the circumference divided by the diameter most commonly tends to be somewhere between 3.10 and 3.40. Since this data is skewed right, we would use the median, which is 3.2143.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CIRCUMFERENCE AND DIAMETER

Figure #4
60 50 Circumference 40 30 20

10
0 0 5 10 Diameter 15 20

The mean is also within a fairly close proximity of the median. The mean is 3.2423. In addition, the mode points in the same direction as the mean and median. The mode is in the class: 3.0532<x<3.2176. Furthermore, in Figure #4, the slope of the scatter plot is 3.1578. Discussion --In progress--

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CIRCUMFERENCE AND DIAMETER

Appendix
My Data Circumference Diameter ratio 392 121 3.239669 295 95 3.105263 652 208 3.134615 122.5 39 3.141026 136 43.5 3.126437 43.8 14 3.128571 178 57 3.122807 262 82.5 3.175758 98 32 3.0625 394 125 3.152

# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Object Measured CD disc Partial roll of duct tape Small bike tire Poker Chip Pocket Watch AA Battery Flashlight cup Spool (for thread) roll of toilet paper

Sample Data # Object Measured Circumference Diameter ratio 362 Dresser Drawer Knob 5.2 1.6 3.25 168 Ranch Beans 283 88.9 3.183352 153 Ring 2.6 0.9 2.888889 220 Fire Extinguisher 14 4 3.5 384 Life water bottle lid 5 1.5 3.333333 67 Quarter 3.1 0.9 3.444444 242 Plate 25.875 8.25 3.136364 323 Hat 23.6 7.5 3.146667 159 Regular RiteAid Chapstick 2 0.59375 3.368421 224 Track ball 7 2 3.5 127 Dime 2.214 0.705 3.140426 118 Basketball 29.33 9.34 3.140257 54 baseball 8.9 2.65 3.358491 304 Lid of Vitamin container 7 2.4 2.916667 253 Green ball 6.2 1.6 3.875 246 Soufle Dish 11.25 3.5 3.214286 20 Disposable cup 30.7 9.8 3.132653 50 shaving cream 6.7 2.05 3.268293 114 paper plate 50.27 16 3.141875 137 Dime 2 0.68 2.941176 133 Fan 29.438 9.375 3.140053 302 Kirkland coffee can 19.7 6.1 3.229508 18 Corn tortilla 45.7 14 3.264286 258 wedding ring 3.25 0.9375 3.466667 291 Soda can base 6 1.95 3.076923