What is the surface area of a circular wading pool with a diameter of 20 feet?

To find the surface area of a circular wading pool, you can use the formula for the area of a circle, which is given by the equation:

Area = π * r²

In this scenario, the diameter of the pool is provided as 20 feet. To calculate the radius, you divide the diameter by 2:

Radius (r) = Diameter / 2 = 20 feet / 2 = 10 feet.

Now, using the area formula:

Area = π * (10 feet)²

Area = π * 100 square feet.

Using the approximation of π (pi) as 3.14:

Area ≈ 3.14 * 100 square feet = 314 square feet.

This calculation correctly gives you the surface area of the circular wading pool as 314 square feet. Hence, the correct answer is 314 square feet, which aligns with the first choice. The importance of using the radius in the area calculation ensures that the dimensions are accurately represented in the derived area.