The volume of a cone, oblique or right circular is computed using the formula

V = 1/3 x area of base x height

(this can be proved using calculus - a cone is a solid of revolution, or Cavalieri's principle)

Since the base is a circle in this case we have

`V = 1/3 pi r^2 h`

where `r` is the radius of the base and `h` is the height of the cone perpendicular to the base. An oblique cone is one where the apex is not perpendicularly above the centre of the base.

Since the diameter `2r` and height `h` are equal, then we have that the radius `r =x/2` and the height `h=x` .

Therefore the volume of the cone is given by

`V = 1/3 pi (x/2)^2 x = 1/3 pi x^3/4 = 1/12 pi x^3`

Now, we are given that `V = 18pi` cubic cm and we wish to find the height`x` and the radius `x/2` . Using the equation for the volume given above we have then that

`1/12 pix^3 = 18pi`

Cancel the `pi`'s out on both sides, giving

`1/12x^3 = 18`

This implies that `x^3 = 12 times 18 = 216`  (10 x 18 + 2 x 18 = 180 + 36 = 180 + 20 + 16) which further implies that `x = root(3)(216)`

If it is a 'non-calculator' question, you may know off-by-heart, or have been told in the question that the cube root of 216 is 6.

We have then that `x = 6` cm to the nearest cm so that

height = 6 cm (to the nearest cm)

and radius = 3 cm (to the nearest cm)

(the 'to the nearest cm' part is something of a misleading statement as x is a whole number anyway. If it is a non-calculator question though, one might expect the answer to be a 'nice' whole number anyway).

height = 6cm ( to the nearest cm)

and radius = 3cm (to the nearest cm)