Question

Ryan wants to use the Fermi process to estimate the number of basketballs that would fill a gymnasium. As part of the process, he needs to estimate the volume of a basketball. The diameter of a basketball is about 10 in. 

Which estimate best approximates the volume of a basketball?

5× 10^1

 in³ 
5× 10^2  in³
5× 10^3  in³ 
5× 10^4  in³

Answer 1

A basketball is the shape of a sphere.

The volume of a sphere is given by


`V= (4)/(3) \pi r^3`

Given that the diameter of the basketball is 10 in., thus the radius is 10 / 2 = 5 in.

Thus, the volume of the basketball is given by


`V= (4)/(3) \pi(5)^3 \\ \\ = (4*125)/(3) \pi=523.6\ in^3`

Therefore, The best approximate of the volume of the basketball is
`5*10^2\ in^3`