Show that height of the cylinder of greatest volume which can be inscribed in a right circular cone of height h and semi vertical angle a is one-third that of the cone and the greatest volume of cylinder is 4 by 27 pi h raised to 3 tan square alpha

18) Show that height of the cylinder of greatest volume which can be inscribed in a right circular cone of height h and semi vertical angle a is one-third that of the cone and the greatest volume of cylinder is

$\frac{4}{27}\pi h ^3 \tan ^2 \alpha$

Answers (1)

Let's take radius and height of cylinder = r and h ' respectively
Let's take radius and height of cone = R and h respectively

Volume of cylinder = $\pi r^2 h'$
Volume of cone = $\frac{1}{3}\pi R^2 h$
Now, we have
$R = h\tan a$
Now, since $\Delta AOG \and \Delta CEG$ are similar
$\frac{OA}{OG} = \frac{CE}{EG}$
$\frac{h}{R} = \frac{h'}{R-r}$
$h'=\frac{h(R-r)}{R}$
$h'=\frac{h(h\tan a-r)}{h\tan a} = \frac{h\tan a- r}{\tan a}$
Now,
$V = \pi r^ 2 h' = \pi r^2 .\frac{h\tan a-r}{\tan a} = \pi r^2 h - \frac{\pi r^3}{\tan a}$
Now,
$\frac{dV}{dr}= 2\pi rh- \frac{3\pi r^2}{\tan a} \\ \frac{dV}{dr}=0\\ 2\pi rh- \frac{3\pi r^2}{\tan a} = 0\\ 2\pi rh = \frac{3\pi r^2}{\tan a}\\ r = \frac{2h\tan a}{3}$
Now,
$\frac{d^2V}{dr^2}= 2\pi h- \frac{6\pi r}{\tan a}$
at $r = \frac{2h\tan a}{3}$
$\frac{d^2V}{dr^2} = 2\pi h- 4\pi h < 0$
Hence, $r = \frac{2h\tan a}{3}$ is the point of maxima
$h' = \frac{h\tan a-r}{\tan a} = \frac{h\tan a- \frac{2h\tan a}{3}}{\tan a}= \frac{1}{3}h$
Hence proved
Now, Volume (V) at $h' = \frac{1}{3}h$ and $r = \frac{2h\tan a}{3}$ is
$V = \pi r^2 h' = \pi \left ( \frac{2h\tan a}{3} \right )^2.\frac{h}{3}= \frac{4}{27}.\pi h^3\tan^2 a$
hence proved