How do you calculate the surface area of a right cylinder?

Take the height (h) and the radius of the base and lid (r). Use the formula 2?r^2 + 2?rh to get the surface area of a right cylinder.

1. Determine your variables

   In order to calculate the surface area of the right cylinder, you will need the height (represented as h in the formula) and the radius of the base and lid (represented as r).

2. Compute the formulas

   The formula for the surface area of this cylinder is 2?r^2 + 2?rh, but factoring 2?r from each term, the simpler formula 2?r(r + h) is derived.

3. Multiply the two terms to determine the surface area

   Once the terms in Step 2 are calculated, simple multiplication gives the answer.