Math Problem Statement

A cone and sphere have equal volumes and radii of equal length. If the height of the cone is 36 centimeters, then what is the length of the radius of each shape in centimeters?

Solution

We are given that a cone and a sphere have equal volumes and equal radii, and that the height of the cone is 36 cm. We need to find the length of the radius rr of both shapes.

Step 1: Write the formulas for the volumes of the cone and the sphere.

  • The volume VconeV_{\text{cone}} of a cone is given by: Vcone=13πr2hV_{\text{cone}} = \frac{1}{3} \pi r^2 h where rr is the radius and hh is the height of the cone.

  • The volume VsphereV_{\text{sphere}} of a sphere is given by: Vsphere=43πr3V_{\text{sphere}} = \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3 where rr is the radius of the sphere.

Step 2: Set the volumes equal to each other.

Since the volumes of the cone and the sphere are equal, we can set the two formulas equal to each other: 13πr2h=43πr3\frac{1}{3} \pi r^2 h = \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3 Since π\pi appears on both sides, it cancels out: 13r2h=43r3\frac{1}{3} r^2 h = \frac{4}{3} r^3 Multiply both sides by 3 to get rid of the denominator: r2h=4r3r^2 h = 4 r^3 Now, divide both sides by r2r^2 (assuming r0r \neq 0): h=4rh = 4r

Step 3: Substitute the height of the cone.

We are told that the height of the cone is 36 cm. Substituting this value for hh: 36=4r36 = 4r Now, solve for rr: r=364=9cmr = \frac{36}{4} = 9 \, \text{cm}

Final Answer:

The radius of both the cone and the sphere is 9 centimeters.


Would you like further details on any step or have any questions? Here are some related questions:

  1. How do you find the volume of a truncated cone?
  2. What is the surface area formula for a sphere?
  3. Can the volume of a cone be greater than that of a sphere if they have the same radius?
  4. What is the relationship between the slant height and radius in a cone?
  5. How would the radius change if the height of the cone was doubled?

Tip: Always cancel out common terms like π\pi early to simplify equations in geometry problems.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Geometry
Volume of 3D Shapes
Algebra

Formulas

Volume of a cone: V = (1/3)πr^2h
Volume of a sphere: V = (4/3)πr^3

Theorems

Equal volumes theorem: When two shapes have equal volumes, their volume formulas can be set equal for comparison.

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-10