A decorative solid is formed by attaching the base of a right circular cone to the top of a right circular cylinder. Both solids have radius . The cylinder has height , and the cone has vertical height . The total volume of the solid is cubic units.
The exterior surface area includes the bottom circular base of the cylinder, the lateral surface of the cylinder, and the lateral surface of the cone. The circular face where the cone and cylinder meet is not exposed. For a cylinder, lateral surface area is . For a cone, lateral surface area is , where is the slant height.
If the exterior surface area is square units, what is the value of ?
For a composite-solid problem, first identify which measurements are shared and write each volume in terms of one variable. Once the volume determines that variable, carefully list every surface that is exposed before calculating area. For a cone, distinguish its vertical height from its slant height; use the Pythagorean theorem when both the radius and vertical height are known.
Hints
Use both volume formulas
Write the cylinder volume and cone volume in terms of , then add them because the two solids form one solid.
Find the cone's slant height
The radius, the cone's vertical height, and the slant height form a right triangle. Use the Pythagorean theorem after finding .
Count only exposed surfaces
Do not include the circular face where the cone and cylinder are attached. Include the bottom base, both lateral surfaces, and no other circular face.
Desmos Guide
Find the radius from volume
Algebra is the fastest method. To verify in Desmos, graph and . The positive -coordinate of their intersection is the radius .
Calculate the exposed-area coefficient
After finding the radius, enter and . Then enter to add the bottom-base area and the two lateral areas while excluding the attached circular face.
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the total volume to find the radius
The cylinder volume is . The cone volume is . Therefore, . Dividing by gives , so and .
Find the cone's slant height
The cone's slant height is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs and . Thus, .
Add the exposed surface areas
The bottom base has area . The cylinder's lateral area is , and the cone's lateral area is . Therefore, , so the value of is .