November 2003:
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November 2003: | |
A
pyramid with a square base of side a, is cut halfway along its
height, h. Find the ratio of the volumes of the two solids formed.
Repeat this for a cylinder with height h and a circular base of
radius r. Bonus: Find the ratio of volumes if the solids are cut into 3 equal lengths along h. |
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First, let us look at the pyramid. If we slide the axis of its height on the x-axis, we have a sloping line with cross-sections as squares. The height is on the x-axis and the largest square at x = h, is a/2. The slope of the line is a/2h using rise over run. Thus we have to integrate the area of the cross section from 0 to h. This area is (2y)2 or (ax/2h) 2. If we integrate this we get a2h/3. So as we know, the volume of a square pyramid is a2h/3. Now integration from 0 to h/2 and from h/2 to h gives a 1:7 ratio for the volumes. | |
Correct Solutions: Andy Young |
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