Math Problem Statement

The jar shown is approximately a cylinder with a radius of 4 cm and a height of 16 cm. The jar is completely filled to the top with popcorn kernels. George determines the jar has a radius of AT MOST 9 kernels and a height of 20 kernels. Using the volume formula for a cylinder, AT MOST how many kernels would you estimate are in the jar?

Solution

To estimate how many kernels are in the jar, we will follow these steps:

  1. Volume of the Jar: The volume VV of a cylinder is given by the formula: V=πr2hV = \pi r^2 h where:

    • r=4r = 4 cm (radius of the jar),
    • h=16h = 16 cm (height of the jar),
    • π3.1416\pi \approx 3.1416.

    Substituting the values: V=3.1416×42×16V = 3.1416 \times 4^2 \times 16 V=3.1416×16×16V = 3.1416 \times 16 \times 16 V3.1416×256=804.25cm3V \approx 3.1416 \times 256 = 804.25 \, \text{cm}^3

  2. Kernel Size: George estimates that the jar has a radius of at most 9 kernels and a height of 20 kernels. Therefore:

    • The radius of one kernel can be approximated as 4cm90.44cm\frac{4 \, \text{cm}}{9} \approx 0.44 \, \text{cm},
    • The height of one kernel can be approximated as 16cm20=0.8cm\frac{16 \, \text{cm}}{20} = 0.8 \, \text{cm}.

    Since each kernel can be roughly modeled as a cylinder, we can estimate the volume of one kernel using the formula for the volume of a cylinder. Let's assume the radius of each kernel is rk=0.44cmr_k = 0.44 \, \text{cm} and the height hk=0.8cmh_k = 0.8 \, \text{cm}.

    Vk=πrk2hkV_k = \pi r_k^2 h_k Vk=3.1416×(0.44)2×0.8V_k = 3.1416 \times (0.44)^2 \times 0.8 Vk=3.1416×0.1936×0.80.486cm3V_k = 3.1416 \times 0.1936 \times 0.8 \approx 0.486 \, \text{cm}^3

  3. Total Number of Kernels: To find the total number of kernels, divide the volume of the jar by the volume of one kernel: Number of kernels=804.250.4861655\text{Number of kernels} = \frac{804.25}{0.486} \approx 1655

Thus, George's estimate is that there are at most 1,655 kernels in the jar.

Would you like further details or have any questions?


Here are 5 related questions to explore:

  1. What if the radius of the jar was 5 cm instead of 4 cm?
  2. How would the number of kernels change if the height of the jar was 18 cm?
  3. If the kernels were shaped like spheres instead of cylinders, how would that affect the estimate?
  4. How many kernels would fit in the jar if their height was reduced by 10%?
  5. What is the impact of using a different value for π\pi (e.g., 3.14 or 3.14159)?

Tip: When estimating volumes, using different geometric shapes to model objects can lead to varying levels of accuracy.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Geometry
Cylindrical Volume
Estimation

Formulas

Volume of a cylinder: V = πr²h
Volume of one kernel: V_k = πr_k²h_k

Theorems

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Suitable Grade Level

Grades 7-9