2017 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 11

Problem

The region consisting of all points in three-dimensional space within $3$ units of line segment $\overline{AB}$ has volume $216\pi$. What is the length $\textit{AB}$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 6\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 12\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 18\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 20\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 24$

Solution 1

In order to solve this problem, we must first visualize what the region looks like. We know that, in a three dimensional space, the region consisting of all points within $3$ units of a point would be a sphere with radius $3$. However, we need to find the region containing all points within $3$ units of a segment. It can be seen that our region is a cylinder with two hemispheres/endcaps on either end. We know the volume of our region, so we set up the following equation (the volume of our cylinder + the volume of our two hemispheres will equal $216 \pi$):

$\frac{4 \pi }{3} \cdot 3^3+9 \pi x=216 \pi$, where $x$ is equal to the length of our line segment.

Solving, we find that $x = \boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 20}$.

Solution 2

Because this is just a cylinder and $2$ hemispheres ("half spheres"), and the radius is $3$, the volume of the $2$ hemispheres is $\frac{4(3^3)\pi}{3} = 36 \pi$. Since we also know that the volume of this whole thing is $216 \pi$, we do $216 \pi-36 \pi$ to get $180 \pi$ as the volume of the cylinder. Thus the height is $180 \pi$ divided by the area of the base, or $\frac{180 \pi}{9\pi}=20$, so our answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 20}.$

~Minor edit by virjoy2001 and slamgirls

Diagram for Solution

http://i.imgur.com/cwNt293.png

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/s4vnGlwwHHw

See Also

2017 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 10
Followed by
Problem 12
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All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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