is , what is the volume of the sphere?
Given that the surface area of a 3-D sphere of radiusThis problem is part of Calvin's set Fun In Multiple Dimensions .
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Here is a more complete solution. Of course, no solution will be complete unless it starts by explaining why the integral of the surface area = volume.
Suppose surface area of the sphere = f ( r ) = 4 π r 2
Now consider the volume of a very thin spherical shell or coating around this surface area, with thickness dr. This is like a thin sheet with a surface area and thickness.
The volume of this thin spherical shell ≈ surface area x thickness
d V = 4 π r 2 d r
To find the volume of the whole sphere, V from the above, we must sum the volumes of all the thin shells or layers making up the whole sphere, starting from 0 up to r, and we do this by integrating both sides:
V = ∫ d V = ∫ 4 π r 2 d r = 3 4 π r 3