Finding Volume of Cylinder Containing Sphere

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves determining the volume of a cylinder that can contain a sphere, given the surface area of the sphere as a polynomial expression. The relationship between the dimensions of the sphere and the cylinder is specified, with the height of the cylinder being twice the radius of the sphere.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the method of finding the radius of the sphere from the given surface area and the implications for the cylinder's dimensions. There is a suggestion to use the quadratic formula to solve for variables, and some participants clarify the relationship between the radius of the sphere and the cylinder.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with various interpretations of how to approach the problem. Some participants are providing guidance on how to express the radius in terms of the variable x, while others are exploring the implications of the surface area equation.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of the polynomial expression for surface area and its relationship to the radius, with some noting that the variable x should not be treated as a fixed value in the context of finding the volume.

DanialD
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Homework Statement



Given that the surface ares of a sphere is 36(pi)x^2+24(pi)x+12(pi) , state the volume of a cylinder that would exactly contain the sphere. (note that the height of the cylinder is twice the radius of the sphere).

Homework Equations



Sphere SA= 4(pi)r^2

VolCylinder= (pi)r^2h


The Attempt at a Solution



i tried to factor the function to figure out x, but its not factorable. Someone please help...
 
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Isn't it? The quadratic formula usually helps in this case.
 
You can't "figure out x"- x is a variable and the final answer should depend on x. Instead, find r in terms of x. The radius of the cylinder must be the same as the radius of the sphere and the height of the cylinder must be the same as the diameter of the sphere.
 
Surface area is given as:
<br /> A=36\pi x^{2}+24\pi x+12\pi =4\pi r^{2}<br />
Hence
<br /> r^{2}=9x^{2}+6x+3<br />
You know the volume of the cylinder, so...
 

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