Question

Difficulty: MediumVolume and Surface Area of Solids

Right circular Cylinder AA has a base radius of rr and a height of hh. Right circular Cylinder BB has a base radius that is 33 times the base radius of Cylinder AA, and a height that is 12\frac{1}{2} the height of Cylinder AA. What is the ratio of the volume of Cylinder BB to the volume of Cylinder AA?

  1. A
    32\frac{3}{2}
  2. B
    94\frac{9}{4}
  3. 92\frac{9}{2}Answer
  4. D
    1818

Answer

The ratio of the volume of Cylinder BB to the volume of Cylinder AA is 92\frac{9}{2}.
The volume of a cylinder is given by the formula V=πr2hV = \pi r^2 h. For Cylinder AA, the volume is VA=πr2hV_A = \pi r^2 h. For Cylinder BB, the radius is 3r3r and the height is 12h\frac{1}{2}h. Substituting these values gives VB=π(3r)2(12h)=92πr2hV_B = \pi (3r)^2 \left(\frac{1}{2}h\right) = \frac{9}{2}\pi r^2 h. The ratio of the volume of Cylinder BB to the volume of Cylinder AA is therefore the ratio of nine to two.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Write the volume formula for Cylinder AA in terms of its radius rr and height hh.
VA=πr2hV_A = \pi r^2 h
To establish a baseline volume for Cylinder AA using the standard formula for the volume of a right circular cylinder.
2
Express the radius and height of Cylinder BB in terms of rr and hh, and substitute them into the volume formula.
The radius of Cylinder BB is 3r3r and the height is 12h\frac{1}{2}h. Thus, VB=π(3r)2(12h)=π(9r2)(12h)=92πr2hV_B = \pi (3r)^2 \left(\frac{1}{2}h\right) = \pi (9r^2) \left(\frac{1}{2}h\right) = \frac{9}{2}\pi r^2 h.
To find the volume of Cylinder BB expressed in terms of the variables rr and hh.
3
Divide the volume of Cylinder BB by the volume of Cylinder AA to find the ratio.
VBVA=92πr2hπr2h=92\frac{V_B}{V_A} = \frac{\frac{9}{2}\pi r^2 h}{\pi r^2 h} = \frac{9}{2}
To calculate the ratio of the volume of Cylinder BB to Cylinder AA.

Key Concept

Dimensional scaling of the volume of a cylinder
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