Thread: Need help with slicing shapes in planes

Since I can't draw the picture I am given, I will describe the nature of the problem to see if anyone can help me out. I am given a solid, right circular cone. The cone is sliced perpendicular to its base through its vertex and the center of its base. Then I am asked which of the answer choices best represents the plane section (The section that is cut is shaded. So the plane section is the section of the cone that hasn't been cut, I assume.) The answer is what looks like a triangle (kind of like a flattened cone, one-dimensional). Does anyone know why this is the answer? My only guess is that after the cone was cut, they "flattened the edges out" and it looked like a triangle, but I'm a bit confused.

Yes, I think something like that, if you slice (the way described) a cone in two pieces the plane section will look like a triangle, I think the most important thing in this case is trying to imagine it.

May be this will help.

Why would the bottom not be rounded though?

Originally Posted by benny92000

Why would the bottom not be rounded though?

the bottom of the vertical slice is the diameter of the cone's circular base ... it's a line segment.

Cross-section - Geometry - Math Dictionary

scroll down to the example

I read the link.. I understand how the "front" of the cross section would look like a triangle.. That is evident. But I don't understand what happens to the "back side of it," the 3-dimensional side, that would make the whole object a flat triangle.

Originally Posted by benny92000

I read the link.. I understand how the "front" of the cross section would look like a triangle.. That is evident. But I don't understand what happens to the "back side of it," the 3-dimensional side, that would make the whole object a flat triangle.

there is no front and back side ... the cross-section is a plane figure (two dimensions only) , an isosceles triangle.

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