Paint volume for hemispherical dome using differentials

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buffgilville
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A hemispherical dome with radius 48 feet will be given a coat of paint 0.07 inches thick. Use differentials to estimate the number of gallons of paint that will be needed to paint the dome.

Here's what I did:
f(x+h) = f '(x)h + f(x) and v=4/3pi*r^3; r=48ft.

volume of the dome:
V=4/3pi*r^3 = f(r)

I set (r+h) to be the radius of the paint volume
so, V=4/3pi*(r+h)^3 = f(r+h)

then, f(r+h) = f '(r)h + f(r)

The question just want the volume of paint needed, so I subtracted f(r)
f(r+h)=f '(r)h + f(r) - f(r), simplify

then, f(r+h)=f'(r)h

derivative, V(paint) = 4/3pi*r^3, then dv/dr(paint)=4pi*r^2

given: r=48 feet, h=0.07inches = 0.0058333feet

f(r+h)=f'(r)h => f(r+h) = 4pi*(48)^2*0.0058333

I got approximately 168.891056 gallons, but the correct answer is 631.7000268 gallons.

What did I go wrong?
 
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Have you checked all of your work? (even the problem and your starting points)


Oh, and BTW,

The question just want the volume of paint needed, so I subtracted f(r)
f(r+h)=f '(r)h + f(r) - f(r), simplify

then, f(r+h)=f'(r)h

You know full well what you have written is wrong: the left hand side of this last equation should not be f(r+h).
 
I just realized the question asks for a hemispherical dome, not a sphere. Can someone please help me with this question? Thanks
 
Doesn't this realization suggest a change to your attempt at solving it?
 
I keep getting the wrong answer. :confused:
 
Have you checked your arithmetic and conversions as well? For instance, I entered this into google:

4 * pi * (48 feet)^2 * (0.07 inches) in gallons

and the result was 1,263 US gallons, not then 168 you got.
 
Find the volume of the outer sphere and the inner sphere. What is the volume between the spheres? How can differentials be used to get a volume? Also, the choice of a good (bad) coordinate system will make the problem much easier (harder).
/s