3.

A lead pencil whose ends are regular

hexagons was cut from a cylindrical
piece of wood, with the least waste. If
the original piece was 8 in. long and ½
in. in diameter, find the volume of the
pencil.

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to

draw the figure as follows

The first thing that we need to do is to
consider the base of the pencil which is
a regular hexagon and draw three
diagonals that passes thru its center as
follows
Since all the interior angles of a triangle
are congruent, then it is an equilateral or
equiangular triangle. All sides of an
equilateral triangle are congruent. The
base of a triangle is also equal to ¼ in.

Next, we need to consider a triangle in a The area of a triangle is

regular hexagon so that we can solve for
its area as follows
 5. The lateral surface of a concrete
octagonal pier of height 10 ft. is to be
resurfaced. If each of the base edges is
1 ft., how many square feet of surfacing
will be required?

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to

draw the figure as follows
Hence, the area of the base of a regular
hexagon is

Therefore, the volume of a pencil which

is a regular hexagon prism is

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

life

The lateral surface area of a concrete

octagonal pier required to be resurfaced
is

or
6. One part of a quartz crystal is a
hexagonal prism with a right section of
1.29 sq. in., an edge of 2.31 in., and a
base of 1.41 sq. in. Find the altitude of
the prism.
Solution:
To illustrate the problem, it is better to
draw the figure as follows
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life
The volume of a quartz crystal is
Therefore, the altitude of a quartz crystal
is
7. A trench is 180 ft. long and 12 ft.
deep, 7 ft. wide at the top and 4 ft. at the
bottom. How many cubic yards of earth
have been removed?
Solution:
To illustrate the problem, it is better to
draw the figure as follows
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life
The amount of earth removed is in the
shape of a prism whose base is a
trapezoid. The area of the base which is
a trapezoid is
The amount of earth removed which is
the volume of a trapezoid prism is

Therefore, the amount of earth removed
in cubic yards is
8. A trough is formed by nailing together,
edge to edge, two boards 11 ft. in
length, so that the right section is a right
triangle. If 15 gals. of water are poured
into the trough and if the trough is held
level so that a right section of the water
is an isosceles right triangle, how deep
is the water? (231 cu. in. = 1 gal.)
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life
Solution:
Consider the cross section of a trough
which is the base of a triangular prism
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life
The cross section area of water in a
trough is
 9. A contractor agrees to build a dam,
180 ft. long and 20 ft. high, 12 ft. wide at
the bottom and 8 ft. wide at the top, for
$9.75 a cubic yard. Find his profit if his
costs were $10,000.
The length of a trough in inches is
Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to

draw the figure as follows

The volume of water in a trough in cubic

inches is

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life

The area of the base which is a

trapezoid is

Therefore, the height or deep of water in

a trough is

The volume of a dam which is a

trapezoid prism is

The volume of a dam in cubic yards is
The labor cost of building a dam is
Therefore, the contractor's profit in
building a dam is
10. (a) Find the volume of water in a
swimming pool with vertical ends and
sides. The length measured at the water
line is 50 ft. and the breadth is 20 ft. The
bottom of the swimming pool is a plane
slopping gradually downward so that the
depth of the water at one end is 4 ft. and
at the other end is 8 ft.
(b) If the sides, ends, and bottom of the
swimming pool are constructed of tile
blocks whose glazed surface
dimensions are 3 in. by 6 in., and if the
ends and sides of the pool extend 2 ft.
above the water level, find the number
of blocks used if 1/20 of the surface area
is covered by sealing material.
Solution:
(a) To illustrate the problem, it is better
to draw the figure as follow
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life
Did you notice that the swimming pool is
a trapezoid prism whose two opposite
faces are right trapezoid? Well, the area
of the base which is a right trapezoid is
Therefore, the volume of water in a
swimming pool which is a trapezoid
prism is

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life

By Pythagorean Theorem,

(b) If the ends and sides of the pool

extend 2 ft. above the water level, the
dimensions of the pool are as follows

Hence, the total surface area of the pool

is
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life

We need to get the unknown

dimensions of the sides of the pool first
so that we can solve for the total surface
area of the pool especially the area of
the bottom of the pool. Let's analyze a
surface of the pool as follows

The total area of the sealing material

used is
 The number of tile blocks must be in
whole numbers. We have to round off to
the nearest ones. The answer is
The total area of the tile blocks used is

The area of a tile block is

Therefore, the number of tile blocks

used for the pool is
11. A football stand 150 yd. long has 20
tiers of seats; each tier has a rise of 2 ft.
and tread of 3 ft. It is constructed of
reinforced concrete with a cross section
as shown. Find the amount of material
used in its construction.

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life

At the first layer, there is one block

whose dimension is 2' x 3'. At the
second layer, there are two blocks. At
the third layer, there are three blocks,
and so on. We need to get the total
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
number of blocks so that we can get the
Life
area of the section. Since there's a
sequence of number of blocks for each
Solution: layer by arithmetic progression, then we
can get the total number of blocks by
Consider the given figure above using the sum of n terms as follows

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life

The first thing that we need to do is to

isolate the given figure which is the 20
tiers of seat section as follows The total area of blocks is

The area of a triangle is
Hence, the area of the 20 tiers of seat
section which is the base of a prism is
Therefore, the amount of material used
for the construction of a football stand
which is a prism is
12. A railway cut 200 ft. and 30 ft. wide
at the bottom is made with sloping sides,
which are 80 ft. and 60 ft. in length. The
80 ft. side is inclined 45° and and the
other side is inclined 30° to the
horizontal. Find the cost of removing the
earth at $2 per load, if the trucks have a
capacity of 4 cu. yd.
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life
Solution:
Consider the given figure above
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life
To understand more the problem, it is
better to analyze the front side which is
a quadrilateral and the base of the
prism, and then label further as follows
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life

If you draw vertical lines from the two

upper vertices and horizontal lines from
the two lower vertices of a quadrilateral,
then it becomes a trapezoid. Since the
sides and angles of a quadrilateral are
given, then we can solve the remaining
sides of two right triangles. The area of 30° right triangle is

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life

The area of a trapezoid is

The area of a quadrilateral which is the

base of a prism is

The volume of the earth removed from a

railway cut which is the volume of a
prism is
The area of 45° right triangle is

The volume of a prism in cubic yards is
Therefore, the cost of removing the
earth from a railway cut is
13. The Pennsylvania Railroad found it
necessary, owing to land slides upon the
roadbed, to reduce the angle of
inclination of one bank of a certain
railway cut near Pittsburgh, PA, from an
original angle of 40° to a new angle of
25°. The bank as it originally stood was
200 ft. long and had a slant length of 60
ft. Find the amount of the earth
removed, if the top level of the bank
remained unchanged.
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life
Solution:
Consider the given figure above
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life
From the two upper vertices of a
triangle, draw vertical lines
perpendicular to the ground and then
label further the figure as follows
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
The length of the base of an obtuse
Life
triangle is

Consider a 40° right triangle,

The area of an obtuse triangle which is

the base of the prism is

The value of h in a 25° right triangle is

equal to the value of h in a 40° right
Therefore, the amount of earth removed
triangle.
which is the volume of a prism is
Consider a 25° right triangle,
14. The trough shown in the figure has
triangular ends which lie in parallel The area of the base is
planes. The top of the trough is a
horizontal rectangle 20 in. by 33 in., and
the depth of the trough is 16 in.

(a) How many gallons of water will it

hold? (One gal. = 231 cu. in.)
(b) How many gallons does it contain
when the depth of the water is 10 in.?
(c) What is the depth of the water when
the trough contains 3 gals.?
(d) Find the wetted surface when the
depth of the water is 9 in. Therefore, the volume of a trough when
filled with water which is the volume of a
prism is

The volume of a trough in gallons is

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life

Solution:

(a) Consider the given figure above

(b) Consider the front side of a trough

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life
 The volume of a trough with water in
gallons is
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life

Bu using similar triangles, the area of

the base with water is

(c) The volume of a trough with water in

cubic inches is

The area of the base of a trough with

water is

Therefore, the volume of a trough with

water is
By using similar triangles

(d) Consider the front side of a trough

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life

Therefore, the depth of water in a trough Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

is Life

By using similar triangles, the length of

the base is

Let's assume that the base of a trough is

an isosceles triangle.
 The lateral area of the wetted surface of
a trough is

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life

By using Pythagorean Theorem, the

length of the wetted edge is Therefore, the total area of the wetted
surface of a trough is

The area of the wetted base of a trough

is
16. A dam 100 ft. long has a cross
section which is a trapezoid whose
altitude is 16 ft., and whose upper base Consider the 65° right triangle,
is 5 ft. If the lower base angles of the
cross section are 50° and 65°, find the
volume of material the dam contains.

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to

draw the figure as follows

The length of the lower base of a

trapezoid which is the cross section of a
dam is

Since the length of the lower base is not

given, then we have to isolate the base
first and then label further so that we
can solve for its length.
Hence, the area of the base is

Consider the 50° right triangle,

Therefore, the volume of a trapezoid

prism which is a dam is
1. A vertical stone column 12.5 ft. high
has an elliptical base with the longer
axis twice the shorter. If the weight of The volume of the column which is a
the column is 12,400 lbs. and if the cylinder is
stone weighs 160 lbs. per cu. ft., find the
area of the largest and smallest axial
section of the column.

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to

draw the figure as follows

The length of b which is the semi-minor

axis of the ellipse is

The area of the ellipse which is the base

of the column is

but

Hence, the above equation becomes

 and the area of the smallest axial
section of the column which is a
rectangle is

The length of a which is the semi-major

axis of the ellipse is

Therefore, the area of the largest axial

section of the column which is a
rectangle is
3. During a rain, ¼ in. of water fell. Find
how many gallons of water fell on a level
10-acre park. (Take 1 cu. ft. = 7.48 gals.
and 1 acre = 43,560 sq. ft.)
The volume of the rainwater which is a
cylinder is

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life

Solution:
Therefore, the volume of the rainwater in
Consider the given figure above gallons is

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life

Let's assume that the thickness of the

rainwater within the level 10-acre park is
¼ in. Since the thickness of the
rainwater is uniform, then the given
figure is considered as a cylinder.

In this case, the area of the base which

is the level 10-acre park in square feet is
4. An ice-storage plant removed from
the center of a pond a mass of ice The weight of an ice covering is
covering an area of 2 acres. If the ice
had a uniform thickness of 2 ft., find the
weight in tons of the ice removed. (Ice
weighs 56 lbs. per cu. ft.; 1 ton = 2,240
lbs.; 1 acre = 43,560 sq. ft.)

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to

draw the figure as follows

Therefore, the weight of an ice covering

in metric tons is
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday
Life

The area of the base which is the top of

ice covering from the center of a pond is

The volume of an ice covering which is a

cylinder is
5. The average depth of a lake is 6. An indoor roller skating rink with an
estimated to be 40 ft. If the surface area area of 1,500 sq. yd. has a concrete
is 15 acres, find the volume of water in flooring 3 in. thick. Find the amount of
the lake. (1 acre = 43,560 sq. ft.) concrete used in laying the floor.

Solution:
Solution:

Let's assume that the lake is in a shape

of a cylinder. Since the surface area of a
lake as well as the estimated depth are
given in the problem, then we can get
the volume of water in the lake as
follows

The floor for the roller skating rink must

be smooth and uniform in thickness. If
the thickness of the floor is the same
within the roller skating rink, then it is
considered a cylinder.
Since the surface area of a roller skating
rink as well as the thickness are given in
the problem, then we can get the
amount of concrete which is the volume
of a cylinder used in laying the floor as
Therefore, the volume of water in the follows
lake is

Therefore, the amount of concrete

required for laying the floor is
7. The outer protective smokestack of a
steamship is streamlined so that it has a
uniform oval section parallel to the deck.
The area of this oval section is 48 sq. ft.
If the length of the stack is 15 ft. and the
stack is raked aft so that its axis at its
upper end is horizontally 4.2 ft. from the
lower end, find the volume enclosed by
the stack. (Raked means inclined.)

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to

draw the figure as follows
Therefore, the volume of a smokestack
which is a cylinder is

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life

The area of a base which is an oval

section is already given in the problem.
By Pythagorean Theorem, the altitude of
the smokestack is
8. The crown of a straw hat has a base
of 38 sq. in. The depth of the crown is 3
in. (Inside dimensions are given.) If the
head occupies two-thirds of the space
enclosed by the crown, find the volume
remaining for ventilation.
Solution:
9. Find the volume of the largest cylinder
with circular base that can be inscribed
in a cube whose volume is 27 cu. in.
Solution:
To illustrate the problem, it is better to
draw the figure as follows

In this problem, the volume of a cube is

given. The length of the edge of a cube
is
Since the area of the base or crown of a
straw hat as well as the depth of the
crown are already given, then we can
get the volume of the crown of a straw
hat as follows

If the circular arc of the base of a

If the head occupies two-thirds of the
cylinder is tangent to the bottom edges
space or volume of the crown, then the
of a cube, then it follows that
volume remaining for the ventilation is
one-third of the space of the crown.

Therefore,
where x is the length of the edge of a
cube and r is the radius of a circle. The
radius of a circle is
Therefore, the volume of the largest
cylinder that can be inscribed in a cube
is
10. A cylinder whose base is a circle is
circumscribed about a right prism of
altitude 12.6 ft. Find the volume of the
cylinder if the base of the prism is a
square of edge 3 ft.

But Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to

draw the figure as follows
Hence, the above equation becomes,

or

Consider the base of a cylinder which is

a circle that circumscribed about a
square as follows
Photo by Math Principles in Everyday or
Life

The length of the diagonal of a square is

equal to the diameter of a circle. By
Pythagorean Theorem, the diameter of a
circle is

Therefore, the volume of a circular

cylinder is

But

Hence, the above equation becomes

CIRCULAR CYLINDER
1. A pine log 40 ft. long has a uniform
circular cross section of radius 11 in.
The ends lie in parallel planes which are
not perpendicular to the axis of the log.
How much paint will be required to give
the log (ends not included) two coats, if
1 gal. of paint covers 800 sq. ft. of
surface? If pine weighs 31 lbs. per cu. Therefore, the amount of paint required
ft., find the weight of the log. to paint the surface of a pine logs in two
coats is
Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to

draw the figure as follows

The volume of a circular cylinder which

is a pine log is

where K is the area of a cross section

and e is the length of an element or the
slant height. Substitute the values, we
have

The surface or lateral area of a circular

cylinder which is a pine log is

where pk is the circumference or

perimeter of the cross section and e is
the length of an element or the slant Therefore, the weight of a pine log is
height. Substitute the values, we have
2. A straight stairway has a balustrade,
with dimensions as shown, containing 2
circular balustrade to a step. The foot
and hand rails are parallel. Find the total
amount of wood used and the total area
to be painted.
two balustrades and there are 14 steps
in a stairway. Hence, there are 28
balustrades in a stairway.
The surface area of a right circular
cylinder which is a balustrade is

Therefore, the total area of balustrades

to be painted is

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life The volume of a right circular cylinder
which is a balustrade is
Solution:

Consider the given figure above

Therefore, the amount of wood used for

balustrades is

Photo by Math Principles in Everyday

Life

A balustrade in a stairway is in a shape

of right circular cylinder. Each step has
3. A circular concrete conduit, whose By Pythagorean Theorem, the length of
inside diameter is 10 ft., is 1 ft. thick. It a concrete conduit is
rises 16 ft. per 1000 horizontal feet. The
vertical plane which contains the axis is
perpendicular to the two vertical planes
which contain the ends of the conduit. If
the ends are 3000 ft. apart, find the
amount of concrete used in the
construction of the conduit.

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to

draw the figure as follows

The cross section of a concrete conduit

is a two concentric circles. The area of
the region between the two concentric
circles is

The first thing that we need to do is to

solve for the altitude or vertical distance
of the ends of a conduit which is a right
circular cylinder by similar triangles as
follows

Therefore, the amount of a concrete used

for the construction of a conduit which is
the volume of a circular cylinder is
4. A smokestack of a ship is 25 ft. long
with a rake aft (angle of the stack's
inclination from the vertical) so that its
top rises 24 ft. above the deck. The
cross section of the flue is a circle with a
diameter of 3½ ft. Completely encircling
the flue is a protective stack. The
distance between the two stacks is 6 in.
Find the space enclosed between the
two stacks and also the outside painting
surface of the protective stack. (Neglect
the thickness of the metal).

Therefore, the amount of space

enclosed between the two stacks of a
smokestack which is the volume of a
circular cylinder is

and the amount of outside painting the

surface of a smokestack is

Solution:

The cross section of a smokestack of a

ship is a two concentric circles. The area
of the region between the two concentric
circles is
RIGHT CIRCULAR CYLINDER
1. The diameter of a well is 6 ft., and the
water is 7 ft. deep. How many gallons of
water are there in the well, reckoning
7.48 gal. to the cubic foot?
Solution:
To illustrate the problem, it is better to
draw the figure as follows
2. A paint manufacturer desires a
cylindrical steel drum to hold 50 gal. of
roof paint. For convenience in handling,
it is found necessary to limit the inside
diameter to 2½ ft. Find the height of the
drum desired. (1 gal. = 231cu. in.)
Solution:

The first thing that we need to do is to

convert the given volume which is the
Since the diameter of a well as well as
amount of paint inside the cylindrical
the depth of water inside the well are
drum in cubic feet as follows
given, then we can calculate the volume
of water as follows

Therefore, the height of the drum

desired to hold 50 gal. of roof paint is

Therefore, the amount of water inside

the well in gallons is
3. Find the amount of waste in making
the largest possible cylindrical rod from
a bar of iron 3 ft. long which has a
square cross section whose diagonal is
6 in.

Solution:

To analyze the given word problem, let's

label further the given figure as follows

The first that we need to do is to solve

for the area of the cross section of the
waste material. The cross section of the
waste material is the difference of a
square and a circle.

By using Pythagorean Theorem, the

length of one side of a square which is
also the diameter of a circle is
Therefore, the amount of waste material
removed from a bar of iron which is the
difference of the volume of a square
prism and a right circular cylinder is

or

Hence, the area of the cross section of

the waste material is
4. A cubic foot of water weighs about as the volume of a cylindrical pail.
62.4 lb. What must be the diameter of a Therefore, the diameter of a cylindrical
cylindrical pail 1 ft. high in order for it to pail is
hold the water from 25 lb. of ice? How
many square inches of sheet tin are
required to make the pan? (Neglect
waste in cutting and lapping.)

Solution:

To illustrate the problem, it is better to

draw the figure as follows

or

The total amount of tin sheet required to

make a cylindrical pan is

Since the weight of water or ice as well

as its density are given, then we can get
the volume of water or ice as follows

The volume of water or ice is the same

5. If a lead pipe ¼ in. thick has an inner
diameter of 1½ in., find the number of
cubic inches of lead in a piece of pipe 10
ft. long.
Solution:
The first thing that we need to do is to
get the area of the cross section which
is the section between the two
concentric circles as follows
Therefore, the amount of lead in a piece
of lead pipe which is the volume of a
circular cylinder is
6. A certain factory manufactures tin
cans. It received an order for 10,000
cylindrical tin cans of height 5 in. and
diameter 3 in. How many square feet of
tin did this order require if 7 sq. in. are
allowed for waste and seams in each
can?
Solution:
The area of the base of a cylindrical tin
can is
The surface area of a cylindrical tin can
is
 paint used to paint the top and sides of a
gasholder as follows

The area of the excess tin used for

waste and seams of a tin can is

The total area of the gasholder to be

painted is

Therefore, the total amount of tin used

to manufacture 10,000 tin cans is

7. A gas company erected a new

gasholder. The gasholder (top and
sides) was given three coats of paint. It
took 50 bbl. of paint of 50 gal. each to
complete the work. The height of the
tank was 160 ft. and the diameter of the
base was 218 ft. If the paint cost $1.00
per gallon, what was the cost per square Therefore, the cost per square yard of a
yard of surface? paint required to paint a gasholder is

Solution:

The first thing

that we need to
do is to or
calculate the
total cost of