Question

An Indian tepee is a conical tent. Find the number of skins needed to cover a teepee 10 ft. in diameter and 12 ft. high. Each skin covers 15 sq. ft. (use = 3.14)

Answer 1

14 skins are needed

Answer 2

You need to calculate the surface area of a cone. Google that, you get \[SA=\pi r \sqrt{r^2+h^2}\] where h=12 and r=5 (because the diameter is 10). Your surface area is then 204.1 sq feet, roughly. Since each skin covers 15 square feet, divide this number by 15 and you get 13.6. That means you need 14 skins, because 13 would leave a hole.