The volume of a cylinder is $$V_{cylinder} = \pi r^2 h = 216$$. The volume of a cone is $$V_{cone} = \frac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h$$. Since both shapes have the same base radius and height, $$V_{cone} = \frac{1}{3} \times V_{cylinder} = \frac{1}{3} \times 216 = 72$$ cubic units. Choice A incorrectly uses $$\frac{1}{2}$$ instead of $$\frac{1}{3}$$. Choice C incorrectly uses $$\frac{2}{3}$$ of the cylinder volume. Choice D incorrectly multiplies by 3 instead of dividing.

When you encounter volume problems involving percentages, you need to find the total capacity first, then calculate the difference between two percentage levels.

Start by finding the pool's total volume: $$20 \times 15 \times 8 = 2,400$$ cubic feet. Now you can work with the percentages. Currently, the pool is 75% full, which means it contains $$2,400 \times 0.75 = 1,800$$ cubic feet of water. You want to fill it to 90% capacity, which would be $$2,400 \times 0.90 = 2,160$$ cubic feet of water.

The amount you need to add is the difference: $$2,160 - 1,800 = 360$$ cubic feet.

Looking at the wrong answers: Choice A (180) represents half the correct amount—you might get this if you miscalculated the percentage difference as 7.5% instead of 15%. Choice B (300) could result from incorrectly using 12.5% of the total volume instead of 15%. Choice C (450) is what you'd get if you calculated 18.75% of the total volume, perhaps by adding percentages incorrectly.

The key insight is that going from 75% to 90% means adding 15% of the total capacity, and $$2,400 \times 0.15 = 360$$ cubic feet.

Strategy tip: In percentage volume problems, always calculate the total capacity first, then find what each percentage represents in actual units. The difference between two percentages of the same whole gives you your answer directly.

The cube volume is $$10^3 = 1000$$ cubic cm. The cylindrical hole goes completely through the cube, so its height equals the cube's side length (10 cm). The volume of the cylindrical hole is $$V = \pi r^2 h = \pi(3)^2(10) = 90\pi$$ cubic cm. The remaining volume is $$1000 - 90\pi$$ cubic cm. Choice B incorrectly doubles the hole volume. Choice C triples the hole volume. Choice D halves the hole volume.

Original radius is 9 inches. Decreased by $$\frac{1}{3}$$ means the new radius is $$9 - \frac{1}{3}(9) = 9 - 3 = 6$$ inches. Original volume: $$V_1 = \frac{4}{3}\pi(9)^3 = \frac{4}{3}\pi(729) = 972\pi$$. New volume: $$V_2 = \frac{4}{3}\pi(6)^3 = \frac{4}{3}\pi(216) = 288\pi$$. The ratio of original to new volume is $$\frac{V_1}{V_2} = \frac{972\pi}{288\pi} = \frac{972}{288} = \frac{27}{8}$$. So the volume decreases by a factor of $$\frac{27}{8}$$. Choice A uses linear scaling. Choice B gives the reciprocal. Choice D incorrectly uses $$\frac{2}{3}$$.

When a cone is partially filled, the water forms a smaller similar cone. The full cone has radius 12 ft and height 16 ft. The water reaches height 8 ft from the vertex. By similar triangles, if the water height is 8 ft, the radius at water surface is $$r = \frac{12 \times 8}{16} = 6$$ ft. The volume of water is $$V = \frac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h = \frac{1}{3}\pi(6)^2(8) = \frac{1}{3}\pi(36)(8) = \frac{288\pi}{3} = 96\pi$$ cubic feet. Choice B doubles the correct answer. Choice C uses the wrong radius calculation. Choice D uses incorrect height proportion.