Thabiso places 6 cylinders on the three cuboids as shown. The first row of cylinders leaves an equal distance of 4.5 cm on either side. Find the diameter of each cylinder.

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b) Step 1: Determine the total length of the base of the three cuboids. From the previous problem, the length of each cuboid is $l = 9$ cm. When three cuboids are placed side-by-side along their length, the total length of the base is $3l$. Total length of base $= 3 \times 9 cm = 27 \text{ cm}$.

Step 2: Set up an equation for the total length using the given information about the cylinders. The first row has 3 cylinders. Let $D$ be the diameter of each cylinder. The total length occupied by the 3 cylinders is $3D$. There is an equal distance of $4.5$ cm on either side of the first row of cylinders. So, the total length of the base is the sum of the two gaps and the total diameter of the three cylinders. $27 cm = 4.5 cm + 3D + 4.5 \text{ cm}$

Step 3: Solve the equation for $D$. Combine the constant terms: $27 = 9 + 3D$ Subtract 9 from both sides: $27 - 9 = 3D$ $18 = 3D$ Divide by 3: $D = \frac{18}{3}$ $D = 6 \text{ cm}$ The diameter of each cylinder is $\boxed{6 cm}$.

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