EXTRACT OF NOTES ON VOLUME OF FRUSTUMS

 The amount of space that a three-dimension (3D) object occupies is called volume.
Vol = area of cross-section  height of a three-dimensional object
VOLUME OF A FRUSTUM
 A frustum of a cone or pyramid is that part of the cone or pyramid that remains when the part
containing the vertex is cut off by a plane parallel to the base.
Note: The cut is always made parallel to the base of the cone or pyramid.
EXAMPLES OF FRUSTUMS

Frustum of a Cone
Frustum of a Pyramid

FINDING VOLUME OF A FRUSTUM USING PRISMOIDAL RULE

The Prismoidal rule applies to a solid of length 𝑥 divided by only three equidistant plane
areas, 𝐴1 , 𝐴2 and 𝐴3 as shown on the diagram below. The formula works for both a frustum made
of a cone or pyramid.

𝐴1 𝐴2 𝐴3

𝒙 𝒙 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆, 𝑽 =
x
A1  4 A2  A3 
6
𝟐 𝟐
𝒙
Example 1(2020 Paper 2 SC Q6)
The figure below is a frustum of a cone. The base radius and top radius are 10cm and 5cm
respectively, while the height is 12cm. (Take 𝜋 as 3.142)
5cm

12cm

Solution
10cm
From the diagram alongside
𝐴1 5cm
𝑥 = 12𝑐𝑚, 𝐴1 = 𝜋(5)2 𝑐𝑚2 ,
𝐴2 𝑟2 12cm 𝐴2 = 4𝜋
5+10
𝑐𝑚2 and 𝐴3 = 𝜋(10)2 𝑐𝑚2
2
6cm
12
𝐴3
10cm
Hence V = 6
[𝜋(5)2 + 4𝜋(7.5)2 + 𝜋(10)2 ]

V = 2[78.55+706.95+314.2]
𝑽=
x
A1  4 A2  A3 
6 V =2(1099.7)
V = 2199.4𝒄𝒎𝟑
 Example 2 (2018 P2 GCE Q6)
The diagram below shows a bin in form of a frustum with square ends of sides
4cm and 10cm respectively. The height of the bin is 9 cm. Find the volume of the bin. [6]
10cm
10cm
𝐴1
9cm
𝐴2
9cm
4cm 𝐴3
Solution 4cm
Were 𝒙 = height of the frustum
𝑽 = A1  4 A2  A3 
x 𝑨𝟏 = area of top part
6
𝑨𝟏 = 10 × 10 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒄𝒎𝟐
9
V = 6 [100 + 4(49) + 16] 𝑨𝟑 = area of bottom part
3 𝑨𝟑 = 4 × 4 = 𝟏𝟔𝒄𝒎𝟐
V = 2 [100 + 196 + 16]
𝑨𝟐 = rectangular area through the middle of the
3
V = 2 [312] frustum parallel to 𝑨𝟏 and 𝑨𝟑 .

V = 468𝒄𝒎𝟑 The length of this rectangle is and the

Width is .Thus 𝑨𝟐 = 7 × 7 = 49𝑐𝑚2

Example 3
The diagram below shows a waste paper bucket in form of a frustum with rectangular ends as
shown below. Find the volume of the bucket. [6] 26cm
20cm
6 cm

Solution
12cm
𝑽 = A1  4 A2  A3 
x
16cm
6
Were 𝒙 = 6𝑐𝑚
𝟔
V = 𝟔 [𝟓𝟐𝟎 + 𝟒(𝟑𝟑𝟔) + 𝟏𝟗𝟐] 𝑨𝟏 = 26 × 20 = 𝟓𝟐𝟎𝒄𝒎𝟐
𝑨𝟑 = 16 × 12 = 𝟏𝟗𝟐𝒄𝒎𝟐
V = [𝟓𝟐𝟎 + 𝟏𝟑𝟒𝟒 + 𝟏𝟗𝟐]
𝑨𝟐 Length is
V = 𝟐𝟎𝟓𝟔
V =2060𝒄𝒎𝟑 (3s.f) Width is

Thus 𝑨𝟐 = 21 × 16 = 𝟑𝟑𝟔𝒄𝒎𝟐

Alternative formula for finding Volume of a Frustum: V =

1
3

H A1  A2  
A1  A2 (A1 = top, A2 = bottom)