An open-top cylindrical canister must hold at least \(1200\,\text{cm}^3\). Its radius must be \(4\,\text{cm}\), \(5\,\text{cm}\), or \(6\,\text{cm}\), and its height must be a whole number of centimeters no greater than \(20\,\text{cm}\).
For each radius, determine the smallest whole-number height that would meet the capacity requirement. Discard any design that violates the height limit. Among the feasible designs, choose the one that uses the least sheet metal for its base and lateral surface. Justify your choice.
Hints
- For each allowed radius, translate the capacity requirement into a lower bound on height.
- The height must satisfy both the capacity condition and the whole-number, maximum-height constraints.
- Compare material only after removing infeasible designs.
- An open-top cylinder uses one circular base plus its lateral surface.
Solution
1. The capacity condition is \(\pi r^2h\ge1200\).
2. For \(r=4\), \(h\ge\frac{1200}{16\pi}\approx23.87\), so the smallest whole-number height is \(24\,\text{cm}\). This violates the \(20\,\text{cm}\) limit.
3. For \(r=5\), \(h\ge\frac{1200}{25\pi}\approx15.28\), so the smallest feasible whole-number height is \(16\,\text{cm}\). Its material area is \(SA=\pi(5^2)+2\pi(5)(16)=185\pi\,\text{cm}^2\).
4. For \(r=6\), \(h\ge\frac{1200}{36\pi}\approx10.61\), so the smallest feasible whole-number height is \(11\,\text{cm}\). Its material area is \(SA=\pi(6^2)+2\pi(6)(11)=168\pi\,\text{cm}^2\).
5. Since \(168\pi<185\pi\), the \(6\,\text{cm}\)-radius, \(11\,\text{cm}\)-high canister is the feasible design that uses the least sheet metal.
Answer
Radius \(4\,\text{cm}\): minimum height \(24\,\text{cm}\), so it is not feasible.
Radius \(5\,\text{cm}\): minimum height \(16\,\text{cm}\), material area \(185\pi\,\text{cm}^2\).
Radius \(6\,\text{cm}\): minimum height \(11\,\text{cm}\), material area \(168\pi\,\text{cm}^2\).
The best design has radius \(6\,\text{cm}\) and height \(11\,\text{cm}\).