Volume

Revision as of 22:48, 11 December 2007 by Temperal (talk | contribs) (Finding Volume: correct equations)

The volume of an object is a measure of the amount of space that it occupies. Note that volume only applies to three-dimensional figures.

Finding Volume

This section covers the methods to find volumes of common Euclidean objects.

Prism

The volume of a prism is $Bh$, where $B$ is the area of the base and $h$ is the height.

Pyramid

The volume of a pyramid is given by the formula $\frac13bh$, where $b$ is the area of the base and $h$ is the height.

Sphere

The volume of a sphere is $\frac 43 r^3\pi$, where $r$ is the radius of the sphere at its widest point.

Cylinder

The volume of a cylinder is $\pi r^2h$, where $h$ is the height and $r$ is the radius of the base.

Cone

The volume of a cone is $\frac 13\pi r^2h$, where $h$ is the height and $r$ is the radius of the base.

Problems

Introductory

Intermediate

  • A tripod has three legs each of length $5$ feet. When the tripod is set up, the angle between any pair of legs is equal to the angle between any other pair, and the top of the tripod is $4$ feet from the ground. In setting up the tripod, the lower 1 foot of one leg breaks off. Let $h$ be the height in feet of the top of the tripod from the ground when the broken tripod is set up. Then $h$ can be written in the form $\frac m{\sqrt{n}},$ where $m$ and $n$ are positive integers and $n$ is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find $\lfloor m+\sqrt{n}\rfloor.$ (The notation $\lfloor x\rfloor$ denotes the greatest integer that is less than or equal to $x.$) (Source)

Olympiad

See Also