SOLUTION: A pyramid whose altitude is 1.20 meters weighs 2.70 kN. At what distance from its vertex must it be cut by a plane parallel to its base so that the two solids of equal weight will

Algebra.Com
Question 1170171: A pyramid whose altitude is 1.20 meters weighs 2.70 kN. At what distance from its vertex must it be cut by a plane parallel to its base so that the two solids of equal weight will be formed.
Answer by ikleyn(52786)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

We want to cut a small pyramid which weights half of the original pyramid's weight.


For it, the volume of the small pyramid must be half of the volume of the original pyramid.


The small pyramid and the original pyramid are geometrically similar with the similarity coefficient c = ,

where h and H are altitudes of the small and the original pyramids, respectively.


So we want   =  =  = 0.5.


It implies  h =  =  = 0.952441 meter.



ANSWER.  The cutting distance from the vertex should be  0.952441 of a meter.


Solved.



RELATED QUESTIONS

A right pyramid has a volume of 200 cubic centimeter and an altitude of 20 cm. How far... (answered by greenestamps)
A frustum of a regular square pyramid is formed by passing a plane 2 in. from the vertex... (answered by ikleyn)
How far from the vertex of a pyramid of altitude H must a plane be passed so as to form a (answered by ikleyn)
The slant height of a right circular cone is 2 ft. At what distance from the vertex must... (answered by onyulee)
1. The altitude of a regular square pyramid is three times its base edge. The volume of... (answered by ikleyn)
The altitude of a pyramid is 12 cm. A parallel to the base cut the pyramid into two... (answered by ikleyn)
A launched rocket has an altitude, in meters, given by the polynomial h+vt-4.9^2, where h (answered by Alan3354)
The base of a triangular pyramid has side lengths 10, 24, and 26. The altitude of the... (answered by greenestamps,Edwin McCravy)
find what fraction of the altitude of a tetrahedron must be cut off by a plane parallel... (answered by KMST)