# Math Help - Volumes

1. ## Volumes

Ok, quite a simple Question.

The base of a solid S is the region in the xy plane enclosed by the parabola y^2 = 4g and the line x=4, and each cross section perpendicular to the x axis is a semi-ellipse with the minor axis one-half of the major axis.

Show that the area of the semi ellipse at x=h is pi.h
(you may assume A = pi.ab)

Ok, here's my question. Why is a = y and b = y/2. I dont get this

2. Originally Posted by noobonastick
Ok, quite a simple Question.

The base of a solid S is the region in the xy plane enclosed by the parabola y^2 = 4g
I presume you mean $y^2= 4x$

and the line x=4, and each cross section perpendicular to the x axis is a semi-ellipse with the minor axis one-half of the major axis.

Show that the area of the semi ellipse at x=h is pi.h
(you may assume A = pi.ab)

Ok, here's my question. Why is a = y and b = y/2. I dont get this
I assume you mean that a and b are the semi-axes of the ellipse. It would have been good to say that.

You are told that " each cross section perpendicular to the x axis is a semi-ellipse with the minor axis one-half of the major axis". The fact that the cross section is perpendicular to the x axis tells you that the measurement is semi-axis is parallel to the y-axis so its length is just "y". The fact that the other axis is 1/2 that tells you that its length is y/2.

I recommend you draw a picture.

3. Ok, i'm really out of it today.

In the question, they gave a picture, and i tried to work out the Volume without reading the question. Ironically, I typed up the question, but I still didnt read it.