The frustum of cone: Surface area and volume

The cone frustum is the figure resulting from having made a cut parallel to the basis of a cone.

image/svg+xml g h R r

To calculate the area of the mentioned figure we have to add up the areas of two bases and the area of the lateral face: $$A_{total}=A_{basis}+A_{minor \ basis}+A_{lateral} \\ A_{lateral}=\pi (R+r)\cdot g$$

In many exercises we will have the height $h$ of the frustum but not its $g$ (generatrix). The Pythagoras theorem in the triangle that appears next relates $g$ and $h$.

ghR - rR - rr

Finally, the volume of the frustum of cone is solved with the following expression: $$V=\dfrac{1}{3}\pi \cdot h(R^2+r^2\cdot R)$$

Practice exercises