Bunuel
Jack is storing a rectangular box inside a cylindrical container. The container has a volume of \(980\pi\) cubic inches and a height of 20 inches. Which of the following dimensions could the box have in order to fit inside the cylinder?
I. 6 inches by 9 inches by 15 inches
II. 11 inches by 15 inches by 18 inches
III. 9 inches by 9 inches by 20 inches
A. I only
B. III only
C. I and II only
D. I and III only
E. I, II and III
Solution:Let the radius of the base of the cylinder be r. Since the volume of the cylinder is 980π and the height is 20, we can create the following equation:
Volume = πr^2 * h
980π = 20πr^2
r^2 = 49
r = 7
We see that the radius of the base is 7. In order for a rectangle to fit inside a circle, the diagonal of the rectangle must be less than the diameter of the circle. Examining the Roman numerals, we see that each of them has a coordinate greater than the diameter of the base of the cylinder (which is 2 x 7 = 14), so if the boxes of given dimensions can fit in the cylinder, there is only one way they can fit. In other words, the last coordinate in each of the Roman numerals must be the height and we need to check whether rectangles defined by the first two coordinates have diagonals less than 14. Notice that the square of 14 is 14^2 = 196.
I. 6 x 9 x 15
Since 6^2 + 9^2 = 36 + 81 = 117 is less than 196, the diagonal of the 6 x 9 base of this box is less than 14. This box will fit inside the cylinder.
II. 11 x 15 x 18
Since a side of the 11 x 15 base of this box is greater than 14, it is clear that the diagonal is greater than 14 as well. We don’t even need to make any calculations to see this (because the diagonal of a rectangle is always greater than the lengths of either side of the rectangle). This box will not fit inside the cylinder.
III. 9 x 9 x 20
Since 9^2 + 9^2 = 81 + 81 = 162 is less than 196, the diagonal of the 9 x 9 base of this box is less than 14. This box will fit inside the cylinder (the top base of the box will be flush with the top base of the cylinder).
Answer: D