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Pattern Anatomy

Each pattern, deconstructed.

solid-volume-by-decomposition

Rank 15/22 0.8% of all AMC problems Grade 5–8

The volume of a three-dimensional region is found by expressing it as a sum, difference, or fixed fraction of primitive solids — prisms, cylinders, spheres, pyramids, cones, or tetrahedra — whose dimensions are read off the configuration. The 3D analog of compound-area decomposition: the work is choosing the split, not any single volume formula. Often a total volume is given and a length is back-solved.

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27-year frequency
1999–2026
2026 forecast slots

How to solve

Primary tools see-drawmath-toolssimplify
What to look for
  • Swap the bounding primitive from a box to a cylinder — the wedge / fraction argument is structurally identical
  • Give the total volume and ask for a missing length (back-solve) instead of asking for the volume directly
  • Change decomposition_mode from fraction-of-whole to sum-of-primitives (e.g. a capsule = cylinder + two hemispheres)

Sub-archetype mix (2)

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More data (year-over-year, tool fingerprint, grade distribution, all members)
14
members
1999–2026
Active years
Year-over-year

Tool fingerprint (1–17)

Grade distribution

  • Gr 5
    1
  • Gr 6
    1
  • Gr 7
    3
  • Gr 8
    9