Answer:
3.7 in.
Step-by-step explanation:
A basketball has the shape of a sphere. The fabric will be the skin of the ball, so the area we are given is the surface area of a sphere.
Formula for the surface area of a sphere:
[tex] A = 4 \pi r^2 [/tex]
We know A = 171.9 sq in., and pi = 3.14, so we can solve for the radius, r.
[tex] 4 \pi r^2 = A [/tex]
[tex] 4(3.14)r^2 = 171.9~in.^2 [/tex]
[tex] 12.56r^2 = 171.9~in.^2 [/tex]
[tex] r^2 = 13.686~in.^2 [/tex]
[tex] r = \sqrt{13.686~in.^2} [/tex]
[tex] r = 3.7~in.} [/tex]
