Question

Could someone please help me with a) and b) of this question with an explanation for a)?
http://i.imgur.com/enS9ln0.jpg

Answer 1

For part a)

If the volume must be 18cm^3, and the cardboard is square, then we can give the length and width of the square X, and the cut squares in each corner the value a. Then:
\[(x-2a)\times (x-2a) \times a = 18cm^3\]

Answer 2

I found out that the dimensions of the box were 3,3,2 however I don't know how to explain it. Could you please help? @heril

Answer 3

With part of your explanation, according to this drawing b=3 (the square b being 3-by-3) and a = 2. The dimensions of the cardboard is X-by-X, so if you don't have that, you need to figure that much out.

And wouldn't the dimensions of the cutout then be a-by-a in my drawing?