The volume of a cone is [tex]88 \pi[/tex] cubic feet. Its height is 8 feet. Fatima is finding the radius of the cone. Her work is shown below.

[tex]\[
V = \frac{1}{3} \pi r^2 h
\][/tex]

Step 1: [tex]\[88 \pi = \frac{1}{3} \pi r^2 (8)\][/tex]

Step 2: [tex]\[88 \pi = \frac{8}{3} \pi r^2\][/tex]

Step 3: [tex]\[\frac{8}{3}(88) = r^2\][/tex]

Step 4: [tex]\[234.7 = r^2\][/tex]

Step 5: [tex]\[15.3 = r\][/tex]

What is Fatima's error?

In step 4, Fatima did not find the correct value of [tex]\[\frac{8}{3}(88)\][/tex].



Answer :

Let's start with the formula for the volume of a cone:

[tex]\[ V = \frac{1}{3} \pi r^2 h \][/tex]

Given:
- Volume [tex]\( V = 88 \pi \)[/tex] cubic feet
- Height [tex]\( h = 8 \)[/tex] feet

Step 1: Begin with the cone volume formula and substitute the given values.

[tex]\[ 88 \pi = \frac{1}{3} \pi r^2 \times 8 \][/tex]

Step 2: Simplify the equation by eliminating [tex]\(\pi\)[/tex] from both sides:

[tex]\[ 88 = \frac{8}{3} r^2 \][/tex]

Step 3: Solve for [tex]\( r^2 \)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ 88 = \frac{8}{3} r^2 \][/tex]

Multiply both sides by [tex]\(\frac{3}{8}\)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ r^2 = \frac{3 \times 88}{8} \][/tex]

[tex]\[ r^2 = \frac{264}{8} \][/tex]

[tex]\[ r^2 = 33 \][/tex]

Step 4: Calculate the value of [tex]\( r \)[/tex] by taking the square root of 33:

[tex]\[ r = \sqrt{33} \][/tex]

[tex]\[ r \approx 5.74 \][/tex]

Now let's analyze Fatima's error:
- Fatima correctly started with the volume formula and substituted the given values.
- In step 3, she should have computed [tex]\(\frac{8}{3} \times 88\)[/tex] as follows:

[tex]\[ \frac{8}{3} \times 88 = \frac{704}{3} \approx 234.67 \][/tex]

However, Fatima made an arithmetic error when simplifying this calculation, leading her to:

[tex]\[ r^2 = 234.7 \][/tex]

Consequently, she calculated:

[tex]\[ r = \sqrt{234.7} \][/tex]

[tex]\[ r \approx 15.3 \][/tex]

In summary, Fatima correctly set up the equation but made an arithmetic error in step 4, wherein she incorrectly evaluated [tex]\(\frac{8}{3} \times 88\)[/tex]. The correct value for [tex]\( r^2 \)[/tex] is 33, not 234.7. Therefore, the correct radius [tex]\( r \approx 5.74 \)[/tex] feet, not [tex]\( 15.3 \)[/tex] feet.