Geometry Homework

Question

What is the total volume of snow used to make the snowman if the head is 12 inches wide, the middle is 16 inches wide and the bottom is 18 inches wide?

A. 6,099.97 cubic inches

B. 5,903.13 cubic inches

C. 7,459.36 cubic inches

D. 9,340.25 cubic inches

Answer 1

Hi Leah:

The snowman is made of 3 spheres (balls) of snow. The diameters, from top to bottom, are 12, 16, 18 inches

Therefore, the radii of the 3 spheres are, respectively, 6, 8, and 9 inches.

The volume of a sphere of radius, r, is given by the formula: V = 4/3 π r³

So, the total volume of snow is the sum of the 3 volumes: V = 4/3 π (6³ + 8³ + 9³)

= 4/3 π (1,457)

= 6,103.06 cubic inches

This doesn't match any of the given solutions but is closest to (A). Perhaps, the question used an approximation for π!