2021 AMC 12A Spring Problem 10

Attempt Problem 10 of the 2021 AMC 12A Spring below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2021 AMC 12A Spring solutions, or check the answer key.

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10.

Two right circular cones with vertices facing down as shown in the figure below contain the same amount of liquid. The radii of the tops of the liquid surfaces are 33 cm and 66 cm. Into each cone is dropped a spherical marble of radius 11 cm, which sinks to the bottom and is completely submerged without spilling any liquid. What is the ratio of the rise of the liquid level in the narrow cone to the rise of the liquid level in the wide cone?

1:11 : 1

47:4347 : 43

2:12 : 1

40:1340 : 13

4:14 : 1

Answer: E
Concepts:conesimilaritypower scaling of length, area, and volume
Difficulty rating: 1750
Small Hint:

The liquid in each cone is itself a cone; with equal starting volumes, the narrow cone (radius 33) is four times as tall as the wide cone (radius 66)

Big Hint:

Adding the same marble volume scales the height by the same factor 1+ΔVV3\sqrt[3]{1 + \frac{\Delta V}{V}} in both cones, so the rises are in the ratio of the original heights

Solution:

The liquid in each cone forms a smaller cone similar to the container. Let the narrow liquid cone have radius 33 and height h1,h_1, and the wide one radius 66 and height h2.h_2. Equal volumes give 13π9h1=13π36h2,\tfrac13\pi\cdot 9\cdot h_1 = \tfrac13\pi\cdot 36\cdot h_2, so h1=4h2.h_1 = 4h_2.

Dropping the marble raises the volume by the same amount ΔV=43π\Delta V = \tfrac43\pi in each cone, and both start with the same volume V.V. Because a cone’s volume scales as the cube of its height, the new height is h1+ΔVV3,h\sqrt[3]{1 + \frac{\Delta V}{V}}, so each rise equals h(1+ΔVV31).h\left(\sqrt[3]{1 + \frac{\Delta V}{V}} - 1\right). This factor is identical for the two cones, so the rises are in the ratio h1:h2=4:1.h_1 : h_2 = 4 : 1.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

Problem 9#9
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