Calculating Surface Area and Volume of 6-Way PVC Pipe - Quick and Easy Guide

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the surface area and volume of a 6-way PVC pipe, with participants exploring mathematical approaches and concepts relevant to the problem. The scope includes theoretical considerations, mathematical reasoning, and practical applications.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the appropriate field of mathematics to study for solving the problem, suggesting integral calculus and solids of Charles Proteus.
  • Another participant suggests that three semesters of calculus might be necessary to set up and solve the problem.
  • A different participant questions the necessity of calculating the volume, proposing that physical measurement of water displacement could be a practical alternative.
  • There is a mention of a similar problem involving a 4-way PVC pipe, with a participant suggesting it may be somewhat more difficult but of the same type.
  • One participant raises the possibility of using geometry to solve for volume and surface area.
  • Another participant references Archimedes, noting that he had worked out the volume of certain solids before the invention of calculus, implying that geometry could also be relevant.
  • A suggestion is made to use 3D CAD software like Solidworks for modeling the pipe to obtain precise measurements.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the difficulty of the problem and the mathematical fields involved, with no consensus reached on a definitive approach or solution. Some participants suggest calculus is necessary, while others propose geometry as a potential method.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the complexity of the calculations and the definitions of the solids involved. The discussion does not clarify the specific mathematical methods that would be most effective.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in mathematical modeling, calculus, geometry, and practical applications of mathematics in engineering contexts may find this discussion relevant.

MrMumbleX
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http://flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?product=PVC-6-ways
Problem: Find the surface area (internal and external) and volume of that (the 6 ways PVC pipe in the link) if the radius of the cavity is .5 cm, the inside of the pipe is completely smooth, and the thickness of the pipes is .05 cm.

I AM NOT ASKING FOR THE ANSWER. HELP BY ANSWERING THE BELOW QUESTIONS:
What field of mathematics (I'm assuming study of the solids of Charles Proteus and integral calculus) should I research in order to solve this problem? Is it a difficult, or long problem? How should I approach this problem? I have no idea as of how to approach this problem. HELP PLEASE!
 
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Maybe not what you want to hear, but I would say 3 semesters of calculus might get you to where you could set up and solve that problem.
 
I think that one would be somewhat more difficult but still the same type of problem.

I'm curious why you are asking this. Do you really care what the volume is? Are you going to study calculus for a year and a half to solve the problem if you can? As a practical matter, if you want the actual volume of those objects you could physically measure the amount of water they displace.

[Edit] Here's a link I found with Google: http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/3925217
 
Last edited:
The question was supposed to be my 20 page term paper for math research. One last question, would finding the volume and surface area of this be difficult, and what field of mathematics is involved? Calculus still?
http://www.puzzleworld.org/puzzleworld/puz/hexagonal_prism.htm
 
MrMumbleX said:
The question was supposed to be my 20 page term paper for math research. One last question, would finding the volume and surface area of this be difficult, and what field of mathematics is involved? Calculus still?
http://www.puzzleworld.org/puzzleworld/puz/hexagonal_prism.htm

Yes. Probably methods from the third semester of calculus.
 
Could geometry be used to solve for the volume and surface area of that?
 
I don't know. One of the links I saw said Archimedes had worked out the volume of one of the solids. That was before calculus was invented. Also, Archimedes was smarter than the average bear.
 
LCKurtz said:
Also, Archimedes was smarter than the average bear.

Heck, probably even smarter than your average human!
 
  • #11
I'm assuming you want an exact calculated number, but if you simply want the answer, I'd model this in Solidworks or similar 3D CAD software and it will give the answers to many decimal places...
 

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