In: Math
28. an open top box is to be formed by cutting out squares from the corners of a 50 centimeter x 30 centimeter rectangular sheet of material. The height of the box must be a whole number of centimeters. What size squares should be cut out to obtain the box with maximum volume.
a. Understanding the problem: If 6 centimeter x 6 centimeter squares are cut from from the corners, the height of the box will be 6 centimeters. In this case, what would the width and length of the box be?
b. Devising a plan: One plan for solving this problem is to systematically consider corner squares of increasing size. What is the largest square with whole-number dimensions that can be cut from the corners and still produce a box?
c. Carrying out the plan: Complete the following table and use inductive reasoning to predict the size of the corner squares needed to obtain the box of maximum volume.
Size of squares (centimeters) | Volume of box (cubic centimeters) |
2x2 | |
4x4 | |
6x6 | |
8x8 | |
10x10 | |
12x12 | |
14x14 |
d. Looking back: The preceding table shows that as the size of the squares at the corners increase, the volume of the box increases for awhile and then decreases. Try a few more sizes for the squares, using whole numbers for dimensions to see if you can obtain a greater volume for the box.