A frustum of a right circular cone is formed by cutting a small cone off of the top of a larger cone. If a particular frustum has an altitude of 24 centimeters, the area of its lower base is 100\pi sq cm and the area of its upper base is 25\pi sq cm, what is the altitude of the small cone that was cut off?
+128475 Find the radius of the lower base
100/pi = pi ^ r^2
100/pi^2 = r^2 take the root of both sides
10/pi = r
Find the radius of the upper base
25/pi = pi * r^2
25/pi^2 = r^2 take the root of both sides
5/pi = r
Using similar triangles, call H the height that was cut off
H/ [H + 24] = [ 5/pi ] / [10/pi ]
H / [ H + 24 ] = 5/10
H / [ H +24 ] = 1/2 cross-multiply
2H = H + 24
2H - H = 24
H = 24 cm
