16Hit1600
Geometry and TrigonometryHardVolume ratio when dimensions change

Geometry and Trigonometry practice question

A cylinder has radius r and height h. A second cylinder has radius 2r and height h/2. The volume of the second cylinder is how many times the volume of the first?

  1. A. 2Correct
  2. B. 4
  3. C. 1
  4. D. 8

Answer: A. 2

V = πr²h. Doubling the radius multiplies r² by 4; halving the height multiplies by 1/2. Net factor: 4 × 1/2 = 2.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. 4
4 accounts for the radius doubling (r² → 4r²) but ignores the height being halved.
C. 1
1 assumes doubling and halving cancel. They don't, because the radius is SQUARED: 4 × 1/2 = 2.
D. 8
8 would be the factor if all three dimensions doubled. Here the height is halved.

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