A cylinder of greatest curved surface area is inscribed in a cone of base radius $r$. The radius of this cylinder is
A$\dfrac{r}{3}$
B$\dfrac{2r}{3}$
C$\dfrac{r}{2}$
D$\dfrac{3r}{4}$
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. $\dfrac{r}{2}$
1. With cone height $h$, cylinder height $=\dfrac{h(r-x)}{r}$ where $x$=cylinder radius.
2. Curved surface $S(x)=\dfrac{2\pi h}{r}(rx-x^2)$.
3. $S'(x)=\dfrac{2\pi h}{r}(r-2x)=0 \Rightarrow x=\dfrac{r}{2}$.
4. $S''(x)=\dfrac{-4\pi h}{r}<0$, so it is a maximum.
_Source: syllabus Mathematics Ch 6 "Application of Derivatives", p.23_
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