Talk:Conic solid

Demonstration of volume formula

The following text was removed from the article:

This can be proven with calculus by approximating the conic solid with pyramids, and letting the number of pyramids increase without bound, so the sum of their volumes approaches the total volume of the conic solid.

Alternatively it can be proven as follows. A cross section parallel to the base is similar to the base with a linear size proportional to the distance to the apex. Therefore its area is proportional to the square of the distance to the apex. Integrating the area gives the volume formula.

As a rule, Wikipedia articles give only the results and formulas. Proofs belong to a mathematics textbook; I believe there is a WikiProject for that.
All the best, Jorge Stolfi 17:31, 11 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

For one thing, that's not actually a proof, merely an outline of one. If you want to start removing proofs, have a go at Gödel's incompleteness theorem. For another thing, what harm does it do? It's not like this article is too long ... —Keenan Pepper 19:13, 11 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The proof itself is not a problem, it is a matter of style and purpose. Actually the proof does some harm, because most readers will not care for it so it is a waste of time, while others will not understand it anyway.

As for the Gödel theorem article, that is Ok because the article is about a theorem. Indeed, the text above could go in an article on Archimedes's slicing method, for instance.
All the best, Jorge Stolfi 21:03, 11 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

OK, I guess I see your point. This article still needs more content, though. —Keenan Pepper 22:38, 11 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I came here looking for the proof. The proof may not belong, but certainly a reference to a proof would be welcome! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.95.65.244 (talk) 03:12, 20 April 2012 (UTC)[reply]