Box volume can be computed by getting the base area multiplied by the total height.
in formula for volume we have,
V = Base Area x H. Given the Volume of 144 cu in and H = 4.5 in. we can solve for Base Area (BA)
Volume (144 cu in) = BA x Height (4.5 in)
BA = 144 cu in/4.5 in
Base Area = 32 square inches