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Geometry of 3D Shapes

Practice exam-style IB Math AI questions for Geometry of 3D Shapes, aligned with the syllabus and grouped by topic.

Verified by Karim
Verified by Karim
Paper
Difficulty
Status
Level
Question 1
SL • Paper 1
Easy
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 1
Easy
Calculator Permitted

Two tracking devices are located at points P(2,3,1)P(-2,3,1) and Q(4,1,7)Q(4,-1,7). Coordinates are measured in kilometres.

A

Find the midpoint of PQPQ.

[1]
B

Calculate the distance between the two devices.

[3]
C

The devices can communicate directly when they are at most 1010 km apart. State whether they can communicate directly, giving a reason.

[1]
Question 2
SL • Paper 1
Easy
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 1
Easy
Calculator Permitted

A spherical weather balloon has surface area 900 m2900\text{ m}^2.

A

Calculate the radius of the balloon.

[2]
B

Hence calculate the volume of the balloon.

[2]
Question 3
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A rectangular room has length 66 m, width 44 m and height 33 m. A cable runs in a straight line from one corner of the floor to the opposite corner of the ceiling.

A rectangular cuboid representing a room, with the cable joining a lower vertex to the opposite upper vertex. The cable's orthogonal projection onto the floor and the room dimensions are labelled.
A

Calculate the length of the projection of the cable onto the floor.

[2]
B

Calculate the length of the cable.

[1]
C

Find the angle between the cable and the floor.

[2]
Question 4
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A lampshade is modelled by the curved surface of a right cone with base radius 4.24.2 cm and perpendicular height 9.59.5 cm. The circular base is open.

A

Calculate the slant height of the lampshade.

[2]
B

Calculate the curved surface area of the lampshade.

[2]
C

An additional 12%12\% of material is allowed for overlaps and waste. Calculate the total area of material required.

[2]
Question 5
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A storage tank consists of a right cylinder of radius 1.51.5 m and height 44 m, with a hemisphere of the same radius attached to its top. The bottom circular face of the cylinder is closed.

A vertical cylinder with a hemispherical roof. The common circular join is internal, and the radius and perpendicular cylindrical height are labelled.
A

Calculate the internal volume of the tank.

[3]
B

Calculate the total external surface area of the tank, including its bottom.

[3]
Question 6
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A water trough is a right prism of length 2.52.5 m. Its constant cross-section is a right-angled triangle with perpendicular sides 0.80.8 m and 0.60.6 m.

A horizontal triangular prism representing a trough. Its right-triangular cross-section, perpendicular sides and prism length are labelled.
A

Calculate the capacity of the trough in litres.

[3]
B

The trough is filled to 75%75\% of its capacity at a constant rate of 1818 litres per minute. Determine the time required.

[2]
Question 7
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A rectangular box has base dimensions 55 cm by 1212 cm and height 44 cm. A straight rod joins one lower vertex to the opposite upper vertex.

A rectangular cuboid with a rod drawn between opposite vertices. The rod's projection onto the rectangular base is shown as a base diagonal.
A

Find the length of the projection of the rod onto the base.

[2]
B

Calculate the length of the rod.

[1]
C

Find the angle between the rod and the base of the box.

[2]
Question 8
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A monument is a right square-based pyramid. Its base has side length 88 m and its apex is 66 m vertically above the centre of the base.

A right square-based pyramid with its apex above the centre. The vertical height, a face slant height and a line from the apex to a base vertex are shown.
A

Find the perpendicular slant height of one triangular face.

[2]
B

Calculate the total surface area of the monument, including its base.

[2]
C

Find the angle between a sloping edge of the pyramid and the base.

[2]
Question 9
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A decorative solid consists of a right cone joined to a hemisphere along their common circular base. Both have radius 33 cm, and the cone has perpendicular height 55 cm.

A right cone joined base-to-base to a hemisphere. The common circular face is shown as internal, with the shared radius and cone height labelled.
A

Calculate the volume of the solid.

[2]
B

Calculate the external surface area of the solid.

[2]
C

A geometrically similar solid has volume 280 cm3280\text{ cm}^3. Determine its external surface area.

[2]
Question 10
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

Two transmitters are located at A(2,1,4)A(2,-1,4) and B(4,3,8)B(-4,3,8). A relay is to be placed at a point R(0,0,z)R(0,0,z) on the zz-axis. All coordinates are measured in kilometres.

A

Find the midpoint of ABAB.

[1]
B

Calculate the distance ABAB.

[2]
C

The relay is equidistant from AA and BB. Find the value of zz and the common distance from the relay to each transmitter.

[3]
Question 11
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A sector of a circle has radius 1515 cm and central angle 216216^\circ. Its two straight edges are joined to form the curved surface of a right cone.

A circular sector whose two radii are to be joined to form a right cone. The sector angle and radius are labelled, and a small cone indicates the resulting shape without revealing its dimensions.
A

Find the radius of the base of the cone.

[2]
B

Calculate the perpendicular height of the cone.

[2]
C

Calculate the volume of the cone.

[2]
Question 12
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A hollow spherical ornament has outer radius 1010 cm and uniform wall thickness 1.21.2 cm.

A

Calculate the volume of material used to make the ornament.

[2]
B

Calculate the volume of material as a percentage of the volume of a solid sphere with radius 1010 cm.

[2]
C

The material costs $0.035 per cubic centimetre. Calculate the material cost of one ornament.

[2]
Question 13
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A sealed capsule consists of a right cylinder of radius 22 cm with a hemisphere of the same radius attached at each end. The total internal volume is 100π cm3100\pi\text{ cm}^3.

A capsule formed from a central right cylinder and two hemispherical ends of equal radius. The cylindrical length and common radius are labelled, with the joins shown as internal.
A

Determine the length of the cylindrical section.

[3]
B

Calculate the external surface area of the capsule.

[2]
C

Find the total length of the two circular seams where the hemispheres meet the cylinder.

[1]
Question 14
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

An open cylindrical container has radius rr cm, height hh cm and volume 500 cm3500\text{ cm}^3. Its surface area, excluding the open top, is A cm2A\text{ cm}^2.

A

Show that A=πr2+1000rA=\pi r^2+\dfrac{1000}{r}.

[3]
B

Use your GDC to determine the value of rr that minimizes AA, for r>0r>0.

[2]
C

Find the corresponding height and minimum surface area.

[2]
Question 15
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A right pyramid has a rectangular base measuring 1010 m by 66 m. Its apex is 88 m vertically above the centre of the base.

A right rectangular-based pyramid with the apex above the base centre. Two different face slant heights, the vertical height and a sloping edge to a base vertex are indicated.
A

Calculate the volume of the pyramid.

[2]
B

Calculate the total surface area of the pyramid, including its base.

[3]
C

Find the angle between a sloping edge and the base.

[2]
Question 16
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 1
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A cable joins a point A(2,3,0)A(2,-3,0) on a horizontal platform to a point B(8,5,12)B(8,5,12) above it. The platform is the plane z=0z=0, and coordinates are measured in metres. The orthogonal projection of BB onto the platform is CC.

A horizontal coordinate plane with point A on the plane, point B above it and point C directly below B. The cable AB, vertical segment BC and projection AC form a right-angled triangle.
A

Write down the coordinates of CC and calculate the length ACAC.

[2]
B

Calculate the length of the cable.

[2]
C

Find the angle between the cable and the platform.

[2]
D

Find the midpoint of the cable and state its vertical distance above the platform.

[1]
Question 17
SL • Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A grain silo consists of a right circular cylinder of radius 44 m and height 99 m, with a right conical roof of the same radius. The slant height of the roof is 55 m. The circular floor is not painted.

A labelled composite silo consisting of a vertical right cylinder and a right cone joined along a common circular base, showing the radius, cylinder height and cone slant height.
A

Consider the dimensions and capacity of the silo.

I.

Calculate the perpendicular height of the conical roof.

[2]
II.

Hence calculate the total capacity of the silo.

[2]
B

The curved exterior is painted. One litre covers 7.5 m27.5\text{ m}^2, and an additional 8%8\% is allowed for waste. Calculate the number of litres of paint required.

[4]
Question 18
SL • Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A drone travels in a straight line from A(3,2,1)A(-3,2,1) to B(5,8,7)B(5,8,7). Coordinates are measured in kilometres, and the plane z=0z=0 represents horizontal ground.

Point

x [km]

y [km]

z [km]

A

-3

2

1

B

5

8

7

A′

-3

2

0

B′

5

8

0

A

Determine properties of the route.

I.

Find the midpoint of ABAB.

[2]
II.

Calculate the length of ABAB.

[2]
B

Calculate the angle between the route and the horizontal ground.

[4]
Question 19
SL • Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A frozen dessert consists of a hemisphere of radius 33 cm joined to the circular opening of a right cone of the same radius. The cone has perpendicular height 1010 cm.

A composite dessert consisting of a hemisphere joined to a right cone along their common circular boundary, with the radius and perpendicular cone height labelled.
A

Calculate geometric properties of the dessert.

I.

Calculate its total volume.

[2]
II.

Calculate its external surface area, excluding the circular join.

[2]
B

The dessert melts without loss and is poured into a cylindrical container of radius 44 cm. Calculate the depth of liquid and determine whether a container of height 2.82.8 cm is sufficient.

[4]
Question 20
SL • Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A temporary exhibition tent is a right square-based pyramid. The square floor has side length 66 m and the apex is 44 m vertically above its centre. The floor is not covered by fabric.

A right square-based pyramidal tent showing its apex above the centre of the square floor, the perpendicular height, a face slant height and a sloping edge.
A

Determine the fabric dimensions.

I.

Find the perpendicular slant height of a triangular face.

[2]
II.

Calculate the area of fabric before allowing for waste.

[2]
B

Find the angle between a sloping edge and the floor. Fabric costs $14.50 per square metre, and 6%6\% extra fabric is ordered for waste. Calculate the total cost.

[4]
Question 21
SL • Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

An observatory consists of a vertical right cylinder of radius 77 m and height 44 m, with a hemispherical dome of the same radius. The circular floor is included when calculating internal volume but is not painted.

An observatory formed from a right cylinder topped by a hemisphere, with the shared radius and cylinder height labelled.
A

Determine the size of the observatory.

I.

Calculate the internal volume.

[2]
II.

Calculate the exterior area to be painted.

[2]
B

Paint covers 8 m28\text{ m}^2 per litre. The manager orders 10%10\% more than the theoretical amount. Paint is supplied in 55-litre containers. Determine the minimum number of containers required.

[4]
Question 22
HL • Paper 3
Medium
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A marine marker is modelled as a right cone joined to a solid hemisphere along a common circular face. The common radius is 22 m and the cone has perpendicular height 33 m. The joined circular face is internal.

A composite marine marker consisting of a cone above a hemisphere, with the common radius, cone height and internal circular join labelled.
A
I.

Calculate the total volume of the marker.

[2]
II.

Calculate the external surface area of the marker.

[2]
B
I.

The marker is made from material of average density 240 kg m3240\text{ kg m}^{-3}. Calculate its mass.

[2]
II.

A proposed model treats the marker as a sphere with the same volume. Determine the radius of this sphere and comment on whether it would have more or less external surface area.

[2]
Question 23
SL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A planter is modelled as a frustum of a right cone. Its open top has radius 66 m, its circular base has radius 33 m, and its perpendicular height is 88 m. When extended, the sloping sides meet at the vertex of a cone.

A central cross-section of a conical frustum with an open top, showing the two radii, perpendicular height and the extensions of the sloping sides to the cone's vertex.
A

Use similarity to determine the volume.

I.

Find the perpendicular heights of the small and large cones used to form the frustum.

[2]
II.

Hence calculate the capacity of the planter.

[2]
B

The inside curved surface and circular base are coated at a rate of 0.180.18 litres per square metre. Calculate the volume of coating required.

[4]
Question 24
SL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A storage shelter is a right prism of length 1010 m. Its constant cross-section is an isosceles trapezium with parallel sides 33 m and 55 m and perpendicular height 2.42.4 m.

A right prism whose end face is an isosceles trapezium, showing the parallel sides, perpendicular cross-sectional height and prism length.
A

Calculate the dimensions and capacity.

I.

Find the length of each non-parallel side of the trapezium.

[2]
II.

Calculate the volume of the shelter.

[2]
B

Both trapezoidal ends, the roof and the two sloping rectangular sides are coated. The rectangular floor is not coated. Calculate the volume of coating required at a rate of 0.120.12 litres per square metre.

[4]
Question 25
SL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted
SL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A cylindrical candle has radius 33 cm and height 1212 cm. A conical cavity of radius 22 cm and perpendicular depth 55 cm is removed from the centre of its top.

A vertical cross-section of a cylindrical candle containing a centred downward conical cavity, showing the cylinder dimensions and the cavity radius and depth.
A

Determine the amount of wax and the cavity dimensions.

I.

Calculate the slant height of the conical cavity.

[2]
II.

Calculate the volume of wax in the candle.

[2]
B

Calculate the total exposed surface area, including the outside curved surface, bottom, top annulus and inside of the cavity.

[4]
Question 26
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A solid metal sphere of radius 1212 cm is melted and recast into nn identical smaller spheres of radius rr cm. No metal is lost.

A large sphere transformed into a schematic cluster of identical smaller spheres, with an ellipsis and an explicit label stating that not all $n$ spheres are shown; the original and smaller radii are labelled symbolically.
A

Develop relationships for the recast spheres.

I.

Show that nr3=1728nr^3=1728.

[2]
II.

Express the total surface area SS of the smaller spheres in terms of rr.

[2]
B

The total surface area of the smaller spheres is three times the surface area of the original sphere. Determine rr and nn.

[4]
Question 27
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A cubic display case has side length 88 m. Relative to one lower corner as the origin, its vertices have coordinates from 00 to 88. Point P(4,0,8)P(4,0,8) is the midpoint of an upper edge and Q(8,8,0)Q(8,8,0) is a lower vertex.

Point / object

x [m]

y [m]

z [m]

Notes

Origin corner

0

0

0

lower corner / origin

P

4

0

8

midpoint of an upper edge

Q

8

8

0

lower vertex

P′

4

0

0

orthogonal projection of P onto the base

A

Determine properties of segment PQPQ.

I.

Calculate the length of PQPQ.

[2]
II.

Find the midpoint of PQPQ.

[2]
B

Calculate the angle between PQPQ and the horizontal base. A sphere is centred at the midpoint of PQPQ and passes through PP. Determine whether the sphere can fit entirely inside the display case.

[4]
Question 28
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

An exhibition building consists of a right circular cylinder of radius rr metres and height hh metres, with a hemispherical roof of the same radius. The total height of the building is 1818 m. For practical reasons, the cylindrical section must have height at least 66 m.

A labelled central cross-section of a cylindrical building with a hemispherical roof, showing radius r, cylindrical height h and total height 18 m.
A
I.

Show that the internal volume, VV, is given by V=π(18r213r3)V=\pi\left(18r^2-\frac{1}{3}r^3\right).

[2]
II.

State the interval of possible values of rr.

[2]
B
I.

Use your GDC to determine the value of rr that maximizes the volume on the permitted interval, and find this maximum volume.

[2]
II.

For a building of total height HH with a required minimum cylindrical height gg, where 0<g<H0<g<H, suggest the radius that maximizes its volume. Justify your answer.

[2]
Question 29
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A drone travels in a straight line from A(1,2,0)A(1,2,0) to B(9,8,12)B(9,8,12), where coordinates are measured in kilometres and the plane z=0z=0 represents level ground. The orthogonal projection of BB onto the ground is CC.

Object

x [km]

y [km]

z [km]

Note

A

1

2

0

start point

B

9

8

12

end point

C

0

orthogonal projection of B onto z=0

Gate

4

point on AB at altitude 4 km

Ground plane

0

plane z = 0

A
I.

Find the coordinates of CC and the length ACAC.

[2]
II.

Calculate the angle between the flight path and the ground.

[2]
B
I.

A monitoring gate is placed where the flight path reaches an altitude of 44 km. Determine its coordinates.

[2]
II.

Determine the fraction of the total flight distance completed when the drone reaches the gate, and explain why this equals the fraction of the horizontal displacement completed.

[2]
Question 30
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A glass skylight is modelled as a right square-based pyramid. Its base has side length 1212 m and the perpendicular slant height of each triangular face is 1010 m. The apex lies vertically above the centre of the base.

A right square-based pyramid showing the base side, apex, vertical height, and the perpendicular slant height of a triangular face. Label only the perpendicular face slant height as $10\ \text{m}$; leave all sloping edges unlabeled.
A
I.

Calculate the vertical height of the skylight.

[2]
II.

Calculate the volume enclosed by the skylight.

[2]
B
I.

Find the angle between a sloping edge and the base.

[2]
II.

A geometrically similar skylight must enclose 648 m3648\text{ m}^3. Determine the area of glass required, excluding the base.

[2]
Question 31
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A plant pot is modelled as a frustum formed by removing a smaller cone from a right cone. The original cone has base radius 66 cm and height 1515 cm. The removed cone has height 55 cm. The top of the pot is open.

A central cross-section of a cone and the smaller similar cone removed from its apex, showing the resulting open frustum. The original cone has total height $15\text{ cm}$, the removed cone has height $5\text{ cm}$, and the frustum has height $10\text{ cm}$; relevant radii and slant lengths are shown.
A
AI.

Find the radius of the open top of the pot.

[2]
AII.

Calculate the internal capacity of the pot.

[2]
B
BI.

Calculate the slant length of the frustum.

[2]
BII.

Hence calculate the total area of material required for the curved surface and the circular base.

[2]
Question 32
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A right pyramid has a rectangular base measuring 1414 m by 1010 m. Its apex is 99 m vertically above the centre of the base.

A right rectangular-based pyramid showing its base dimensions, central perpendicular height, two different face slant heights and a sloping edge.
A
I.

Calculate the volume of the pyramid.

[2]
II.

Calculate its total surface area, including the base.

[2]
B
I.

Find the angle between a sloping edge and the base.

[2]
II.

A similar pyramid is designed to have volume 1000 m31000\text{ m}^3. Determine its total surface area.

[2]
Question 33
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

An aircraft hangar is a right prism of length 3030 m. Its cross-section consists of a rectangle of width 1212 m and height 44 m, topped by a semicircle of radius 66 m.

A prism-shaped hangar with a rectangular and semicircular end cross-section, showing its width, wall height, roof radius and length.
A
I.

Calculate the internal volume of the hangar.

[2]
II.

Calculate the area of the two vertical side walls and curved roof, excluding the floor and end faces.

[2]
B
I.

A cable runs from a wall–roof junction at one end of the hangar to the highest point of the roof at the other end. Calculate the cable length.

[2]
II.

Find the angle between this cable and the floor.

[2]
Question 34
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A star is modelled as a sphere of radius RR. Its total power output is assumed to spread uniformly over spherical surfaces. At distance dd from the centre, the intensity is modelled by I=L4πd2I=\frac{L}{4\pi d^2}, where LL is constant.

A spherical star surrounded by concentric spherical surfaces, with star radius R, radial distance d and satellite altitude indicated.
A
I.

Show that the intensity at distance 2R2R is one quarter of the intensity at the surface.

[2]
II.

Determine the altitude above the surface where the intensity is half its surface value.

[2]
B
I.

Calculate the volume of the spherical region between the star's surface and the half-intensity surface.

[2]
II.

For a required intensity fraction pp, where 0<p<10<p<1, deduce a formula for altitude above the surface in terms of RR and pp.

[2]
Question 35
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A closed cylindrical container has radius rr cm, height hh cm and fixed volume 750 cm3750\text{ cm}^3. Its total surface area is A cm2A\text{ cm}^2.

A closed right circular cylinder labelled with variable radius r and height h.
A

Develop a surface-area model.

I.

Express hh in terms of rr.

[2]
II.

Show that A=2πr2+1500rA=2\pi r^2+\frac{1500}{r}.

[2]
B

Use your GDC to determine the dimensions that minimize the surface area, and find the minimum area.

[4]
Question 36
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A right square-based pyramid has base side length xx cm and perpendicular height (x+2)(x+2) cm. Its volume is 200 cm3200\text{ cm}^3.

A right square-based pyramid with the base side labelled x, apex vertically above the centre, and perpendicular height labelled x plus two.
A

Determine the dimensions of the pyramid.

I.

Show that xx satisfies x3+2x2600=0x^3+2x^2-600=0.

[2]
II.

Use your GDC to find xx and the perpendicular height.

[2]
B

Calculate the total surface area of the pyramid and the angle between a sloping edge and the base.

[4]
Question 37
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A decorative block is a frustum of a right square-based pyramid. Its lower square has side length 1212 cm, its upper square has side length xx cm, and its perpendicular height is 99 cm. Its volume is 684 cm3684\text{ cm}^3.

A right square-pyramidal frustum with parallel upper and lower square faces, labelled side lengths and perpendicular height.
A

Determine the upper side length.

I.

Show that x2+12x84=0x^2+12x-84=0.

[2]
II.

Hence find xx, giving an exact value and a decimal approximation.

[2]
B

Calculate the total surface area of the frustum, including both square faces.

[4]
Question 38
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A sealed underwater chamber consists of a right cylinder with a hemisphere attached at each end. Its total length is 2020 m and its internal volume is 1000 m31000\text{ m}^3. The common radius is rr m. Assume the chamber walls have negligible thickness, so the internal and external dimensions are the same.

A capsule-shaped chamber formed from a cylinder and two hemispherical ends, showing the total length, common radius and cylindrical section.
A

Model the chamber dimensions.

I.

Show that rr satisfies π(20r223r3)=1000\pi\left(20r^2-\frac23r^3\right)=1000.

[2]
II.

Use your GDC to find the physically valid value of rr and the length of the cylindrical section.

[2]
B

The entire curved exterior is coated. Show that its area can be written as 40πr40\pi r, and hence calculate the coating area.

[4]
Question 39
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A grain silo consists of a right circular cylinder of radius rr m and height hh m, topped by a right cone of the same radius and perpendicular height rr m. The total internal volume is 500π m3500\pi\text{ m}^3. The base is not included in the area to be coated.

A cylindrical silo with a conical roof, showing common radius r, cylindrical height h and conical height r.
A
I.

Show that h=500r2r3h=\frac{500}{r^2}-\frac{r}{3}.

[2]
II.

Show that the external area to be coated is A=1000πr+πr2(223)A=\frac{1000\pi}{r}+\pi r^2\left(\sqrt2-\frac23\right).

[2]
B
I.

Use your GDC to determine the value of rr that minimizes the area, subject to h>0h>0.

[2]
II.

Hence find the corresponding cylindrical height and minimum coating area.

[2]
Question 40
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A spherical display of radius 55 m is placed at the centre of a cubical hall of side length 1010 m. Eight identical smaller spheres are placed in the corners. Each smaller sphere is tangent to the three faces meeting at its corner and tangent to the central sphere.

A cube containing one central sphere, shown with a single visible outer boundary, and eight identical corner spheres. The centres and a body diagonal from a corner-sphere centre to the central-sphere centre are indicated. The radius label 5 m points to the outer boundary of the central sphere.
A

Part (a)

I.

Let the radius of a smaller sphere be xx m. Show that 3(5x)=5+x\sqrt3(5-x)=5+x.

[2]
II.

Hence find xx in exact form.

[2]
B

Part (b)

I.

Calculate the percentage of the hall occupied by the nine spheres.

[2]
II.

Explain why two smaller spheres placed at adjacent corners do not overlap.

[2]
Question 41
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A pavilion roof is a frustum of a right square-based pyramid. The complete pyramid has base side length 1010 m and vertical height 1212 m. The roof is cut by a plane parallel to the base so that the top square has side length 44 m.

A right square pyramid truncated by a plane parallel to its base, showing the complete vertical height labelled $12\ \text{m}$ from the apex to the base, the base side length $10\ \text{m}$, the top square side length $4\ \text{m}$, and corresponding similar pyramids.
A
AI.

Find the vertical height of the removed small pyramid and hence the vertical height of the frustum.

[2]
AII.

Calculate the volume of the frustum between its two square faces.

[2]
B
BI.

Calculate the area of the four sloping faces of the frustum.

[2]
BII.

Find the angle between a sloping edge of the complete pyramid and its base.

[2]
Question 42
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

An open hemispherical bowl has outer radius 66 cm and uniform thickness 0.50.5 cm. The material is modelled as the region between two concentric hemispheres. The flat annular rim is exposed.

A cross-section of an open hemispherical bowl showing the outer and inner radii, uniform wall thickness and exposed annular rim.
A
I.

Calculate the volume of material in the bowl.

[2]
II.

Calculate the total exposed surface area, including the inner and outer curved surfaces and the rim.

[2]
B
I.

Find the volume of material as a percentage of the volume of a solid hemisphere of outer radius 66 cm.

[2]
II.

A redesigned bowl has outer radius 66 cm. Determine the uniform thickness required for the material to occupy exactly 20%20\% of the outer solid hemisphere.

[2]
Question 43
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A straight structural beam joins A(6,2,3)A(-6,2,3) to B(4,10,15)B(4,10,15) in a three-dimensional coordinate system measured in metres. A vertical partition is represented by the plane x=0x=0.

Object

x [m]

y [m]

z [m]

Equation / note

A

-6

2

3

beam endpoint

B

4

10

15

beam endpoint

Vertical partition

x=0

A
I.

Calculate the length of the beam.

[2]
II.

Find the coordinates where the beam intersects the partition.

[2]
B
I.

Calculate the length of the orthogonal projection of the beam onto the partition.

[2]
II.

Hence find the acute angle between the beam and the partition.

[2]
Question 44
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A circular sheet of radius 2020 cm has a sector removed. The two remaining radial edges are joined to form the curved surface of a right cone. The slant height of the cone is therefore 2020 cm. A particular cone is required to have perpendicular height 1212 cm.

A circular sheet with a sector removed and the remaining sector joined into a cone, showing the relationship between sector arc length, cone circumference, radius, height and slant height.
A
I.

Find the radius of the cone and the angle of the sector removed.

[2]
II.

Calculate the volume of this cone.

[2]
B
I.

For any cone formed from this sheet, show that its volume can be modelled by V(r)=13πr2400r2V(r)=\frac13\pi r^2\sqrt{400-r^2}, where 0<r<200<r<20.

[2]
II.

Use your GDC to determine the radius and remaining sector angle that maximize the cone's volume.

[2]
Question 45
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A right cone is placed inside a sphere of radius 1010 cm so that the cone's vertex and the circumference of its base lie on the sphere. The cone has perpendicular height hh cm and base radius rr cm.

A central cross-section of a right cone inscribed in a sphere, showing the sphere centre, cone height $h$, base radius $r$, and the right triangle used to relate them. The segment from the sphere centre to the base circumference is labelled $|10-h|$.
A

Develop a model for the cone.

I.

Show that r2=h(20h)r^2=h(20-h).

[2]
II.

Show that the cone's volume is V(h)=π3h2(20h)V(h)=\frac{\pi}{3}h^2(20-h).

[2]
B

Use your GDC to determine the dimensions of the cone with maximum volume, and find this maximum volume.

[4]
Question 46
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A right circular cylinder is placed inside a sphere of radius 1010 cm. The cylinder is centred at the centre of the sphere. Its radius is rr cm and its total height is hh cm.

A central cross-section of a cylinder inscribed symmetrically in a sphere, showing radius r, total height h and the right triangle connecting half the height to the sphere radius.
A

Develop a volume model.

I.

Show that r2=100h24r^2=100-\frac{h^2}{4}.

[2]
II.

Hence show that the cylinder's volume is V(h)=πh(100h24)V(h)=\pi h\left(100-\frac{h^2}{4}\right).

[2]
B

Use your GDC to determine the dimensions of the cylinder with maximum volume, and calculate its total surface area.

[4]
Question 47
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A family of right square-based pyramids has sloping edge length 1515 m. Each apex lies vertically above the centre of its square base. Let the base side length be ss m and the vertical height be hh m.

A right square-based pyramid showing base side s, vertical height h, fixed sloping edge length 15 and the projection of that edge from the base centre to a vertex.
A
I.

Show that h=225s22h=\sqrt{225-\frac{s^2}{2}}.

[2]
II.

Write down a model for the volume VV in terms of ss, and state its physical domain.

[2]
B
I.

Use your GDC to determine the values of ss and hh that maximize the volume.

[2]
II.

Find the maximum volume and the total surface area of the corresponding pyramid, including its base.

[2]
Question 48
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted
HL • Paper 3
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A rectangular observation chamber has dimensions xx m, 2x2x m and zz m. Its volume is 480 m3480\text{ m}^3. A laser beam joins one lower vertex to the opposite upper vertex and makes an angle of 4545^\circ with the base.

A rectangular cuboid showing base dimensions x and 2x, height z, a space diagonal laser beam and its projection onto the base.
A
I.

Show that z=x5z=x\sqrt5.

[2]
II.

Hence determine xx and zz.

[2]
B
I.

Calculate the length of the laser beam.

[2]
II.

Calculate the total internal surface area of the chamber and explain why enlarging every dimension by the same scale factor would not change the angle of the beam with the base.

[2]

Geometric Transformations

Graph Theory