I have a question, and I cannot figure out why my theory does not work.
Say we have a circle tablecloth with 48 inch diameter
this clearly has an area of 576 pi
Now lets say this same tablecloth is put over a 36 inch table. It now takes the shape of a cylinder without a bottom, with a height of six inches on each side and a diameter of 36. So why does the modified area of a cylinder formula [2(pi)(18)(6) + pi(18)^2] not equal the same area of 576 pi, but a lesser 540 pi?
This is the part that is incorrect. Take a round coffee filter or cut a circle out of paper towel and place it over a cylinder (like a peanut butter jar) and see what happens. It is like a skirt with pleats. There is extra material.
(Funny that a problem that is “very theoretical” can be answered with a paper towel and a peanut butter jar!)
^which is why you will see lots of creases when you place a large tablecloth over a smaller table of the same shape.
@MITer94 @CheddarcheeseMN thank you both! (PS I said that more to attract people to answer it but that’s very funny when you put it that way!)
This is definitely not the right place to post this thread.