16Hit1600
Geometry and TrigonometryHardRadius of a cone from its volume

Geometry and Trigonometry practice question

A cone has a volume of 12π cubic centimetres and a height of 4 centimetres. What is the radius of its base, in centimetres? (The volume of a cone is (1/3)πr²h.)

Answer: 3

(1/3)πr²(4) = 12π gives (4/3)r² = 12, so r² = 9 and r = 3.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 1
1 comes from r² = 12/12, forgetting the factor 4/3 from the height and the 1/3.
If you answered 9
9 is r²; take the square root.
If you answered 36
36 is r² without dividing by the 4/3, or 9 × 4.

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