Question

A candy bar box is in the shape of a triangular prism. The volume of the box is 2,400 cubic centimeters.Part A: What is the height of the box? Show your work. (5 points)

Part B: What is the approximate amount of cardboard used to make the sides of the candy box? Explain how you got your answer. (5 points)

Answer 1

Hello, do you have a diagram you can show me for this question?

Answer 2

First of all, the formula for volume is: volume = base * height

Answer 3

So, using that equation, we can't solve for the height, since there are still 2 variables that we don't have values for.

Answer 4

this should help: http://www.mathwarehouse.com/solid-geometry/triangular-prism/images/triangular-prism-image-labelled.jpg

Answer 5

in this case the height is 20 because it's shown on the prism

Answer 6

wouldn't the height be seventeen if in the link you showed me "a" is the height? @ab854

Answer 7

No, for the link i gave you, "a" and "c" are both used to find the area of the trianlge, otherwise known as the Base of the prism

Answer 8

a would be the height of the triangle

Answer 9

ohh okay. So 16 would be the base of the box and 20 would be the height? @ab854

Answer 10

Actually, the height here is not shown. What we know from the question is:
Volume= 2,400 cubic centimeters.
Base= 16 cm.
Length = 20 cm.

We are looking for the height.

To solve for the height let's rearrange the formula in terms of H.
So it will look like this:
V = 1/2(B*L*H)

Answer 11

so it would be 1/2(16*20*H) But we don't know the height. @Zenshiru

Answer 12

I'm working on a little picture, give me one moment. My crop tool is acting up.

Answer 13

okay

Answer 14

Alright, so using what I just said, you're able to rearrange your equation, and it should look something like this. You should be able to plug your given values into this.

Answer 15

so the height is fifteen?

Answer 16

Yep! The height of that figure is 15 cm.

Answer 17

okay thanks. I think I know what to do. Wouldn't you just find the circumference of the whole box?

Answer 18

I think it means all sides.

Answer 19

I found the lateral surface area. It's 795 cm

Answer 20

okay thank you for your help @Zenshiru ! is there anyone you know that can help me with part two?

Answer 21

Thank you so much!

Answer 22

surface are=120*2+2*20*17+20*16=240+680+320=1240
card board needed=1240 square cms.

Answer 23

Consider the following

Similarly for your prism we have