Question

A box was measured with a degree of accuracy to the nearest 2cm; 24cm × 24cm × 20cm. What is the smallest possible volume of the box to the nearest cm3?

Answer 1

Each measurement is accurate to 2cm so they can each be “off” by 2. Since we want the smallest possible volume let’s assume each is actually 2 less than what is given.

The sides would then measure: 22, 22 and 18cm respectively. We obtain the volume by multiplying length, width and height...the three values given.

Thus the smallest volume is 22x22x18=8,712 cm^3

Answer 2

8712
`cm^(3)`

Explanation:

since the box was measured to the nearest 2 cm

we will assume its dimensions would be ( + or - ) 2cm each

hence for the smallest possible volume of the box the dimensions would be

= (24 - 2 ) cm * ( 24 - 2 ) cm * ( 20 - 2 ) cm

= 22 * 22 * 18 = 8712
`cm^(3)`

this would be the smallest possible volume of the box to the nearest cm3