Hi Janice,

The volume of the conical container is

\[\frac13 \; \pi \times 3.5^2 \times 12 = 154 \mbox{ cubic centimeters.}\]

The container is $\frac23$ full of sand so the volume of sand in the container is two thirds of 154 cubic centimeters or $\frac23 \times 154$ cubic centimeters.

I hope this helps,
Penny

Janice wrote back

Thank you so much for answering my question. I was looking at the original height of the cone of 12 cm, and I was taking 2/3 of 12 to get the new height of 8. The new height is not 8, and we don't care what the new height is. We are only taking 2/3 of the original volume. I have been worried about this question for more than a week. In 8th grade math we teach dimensional change. I was trying to make this a dimensional change problem. If we were taking 2/3 of the height, I would be correct. My district coordinator tried to explain this to me. She was so patient. I just did not get it.

Janice,

The conical container and the cone of sand are similar figures.

With your interpretation, since the height of the sand is 2/3 the height of the container it must be that the radius of the surface of the sand is 2/3 the radius of the top of the container. Thus the volume of sand is

\[\frac13 \; \pi \; \left(\frac23 \times 3.5\right)^2 \times \left(\frac23 \times 12\right) \mbox{ cubic centimeters.}\]

Exactly what you have.

Penny