Assumes: ball is equivalent to spherical shape
Find surface area (painted):
($100.00)/($0.50 / in²) = 200 in²
Surface area of sphere:
SA = 4πr²
(200 in²) = 4πr²
r² = (200 in²)/(4π) = 15.91549431 in²
r = √(15.91549431) = 3.989422804 in
diameter = 2r = 2(3.989422804 in) = 7.978845608 in
Rounded to the nearest tenth of an inch:
d = 8.0 inches
. . . answer is . . . diameter = 8.0 inches