Official Guide Explanation:
Problem Solving #D20

 

 

Background

This is just one of hundreds of free explanations I've created to the quantitative questions in The Official Guide for GMAT Review (12th ed.). Click the links on the question number, difficulty level, and categories to find explanations for other problems.

These are the same explanations that are featured in my "Guides to the Official Guide" PDF booklets. However, because of the limitations of HTML and cross-browser compatibility, some mathematical concepts, such as fractions and roots, do not display as clearly online.

Click here for an example of the PDF booklets. Click here to purchase a PDF copy.

 

Solution and Metadata

Question: D20
Page: 23
Difficulty: 7 (Very Difficult)
Category 1: Geometry > Circles > Multiple figures
Category 2: Geometry > Circles > other

Explanation: The toughest thing about this problem is visualizing the interaction between the two shapes. If the base of the hemisphere and the base of the cone coincide, they are equal. Since the cone is inscribed, it is as tall as the hemisphere. That is, the height of the cone is equal to the radius of the hemisphere. (The "height" of a hemisphere is equal to its radius.) Thus, the ratio of the height of the cone to the radius of the hemisphere is 1:1, since the two are equal. Choice (B) is correct.

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