An open top box with rectangular base is to be constructed. The box is to be at least 2 inches wide and twice as long as it is wide. It is to have a volume of 150 cubic inches. What should the dimensions of the box be if the surface area is to be as small as possible?

Question

anonymous · Answer

This is a multi-step problem. You can start by choosing a variable like "w" to represent the box's width. What would then be the expression for the other dimensions, volume and surface area?

anonymous · Answer

I have gotten to w*2w*h=150

anonymous · Answer

I also know it has 5 sides, I believe 3 are rectangular and the other two are square.

anonymous · Answer

great progress!
how would you express surface area?

anonymous · Answer

I'm not sure yet. I was thinking "3(w*l)+ 2(w*h)=surface area" but I'm not sure if that is correct

anonymous · Answer

hint:
there is one pair of opposite sides with the same area, a second pair of sides with the same area, and a bottom, but, remember, no top
that should give the surface area
you may want to sketch it out (that helps me)

anonymous · Answer

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