There is a perfect sphere of diameter 100 cms. resting up against a perfectly straight wall and a perfectly straight floor.
What is the diameter of the largest sphere that can pass through the gap between the wall, floor and the sphere ?

Right add the radius to extend the hypotenuse to the outer edge of the circle. That makes the line 120.17 to 2 places decimals. The diameter of Large circle is 100 cms and the smaller circle's diameter is in the same proportion as the larger circle i.e. 100 : 120.17 as x : 20.17, well you do the sums! About 16.78cms.

Posted by Denis Cronin on 2003-09-21 20:59:00