Math Question

[leaptad]

For all you math-letes out there (where's Charlie when you need him?):

We have a puzzle at work where we have to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar. They are in a cylindrical shaped container, but the sides of the cylinder bow out, they are not straight.

I know the volume of right cylindar is (pi)(r^2)(h), but what about a NON-right cylinder? Anyone? I'm thinking I need an integral here...

[total_g33k]

A question I'd love to answer...I'm in Geometry right now so this may be a little too basic but my book says that the formula for finding the volume of an oblique cylinder is the same as a right cylinder..so that means pi*r^2*h or the same thing that you had. I think that as long as two cylinders are the same height and have the same radius, then the volumes are equal. If this helps...it's the Cavalieri's Principal:

Let I and II be teo solids included between parallel plans. If every plane P parallel to the given planes intersects I and II in sections with the same area than Volume(I)=Volume(II)

I hope that's not too confusing and that it helps you.

[leaptad]

I don't think I explained it right. The sides are not slated, they are curved.

The radius at the top and bottom is smaller than the radius in the center. Think of a sphere with the top and bottoms cut off. The curvature, however, is not really that of a sphere, so I don't think that finding the volume of a sphere would help me.

That's what I'm trying to find the volume of.

[Anonymous]

Are you talking about a jar jar or more of a fish bowl....If it's a jar mybe you could try splitting it up.. ya know find the volume of the larger cylinder body part and then find the volume of the smaller top and bottom and add them together....is that making sense?

[total_g33k]

^sorry that was me...forgot to log back in :D

[leaptad]

Thanks for all your help. It's actually more barrel-shaped. I just looked online and found a site that can calculate the volume of a barrel. I feel pretty stupid right now. I must need more caffeine!

Sorry to bug you with my stupid math problem of the day!