Question

5. The dimensions, in inches, of a shipping box at We Ship 4 You can be expressed as width x, length x + 5, and height 3x - 1. The volume is about 7.6 f3. Find the dimensions of the box in inches. Round to the nearest inch. (Hint: 1 f 1,728 in.3)

Answer 1

To find the dimensions of the shipping box, calculate the volume in cubic inches, then set up and solve the volume equation x(x + 5)(3x - 1), substituting the given volume after conversion from cubic feet. Solve for x, then use it to find and round the box's dimensions.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the dimensions of the shipping box, we need to calculate the volume using the given dimensions in inches and compare it to the provided volume in cubic feet. Recall that the conversion factor between cubic feet and cubic inches is 1 cubic foot equals 1,728 cubic inches. Firstly, convert the volume of the box from cubic feet to cubic inches: 7.6 cubic feet are 7.6 x 1,728 cubic inches.

Next, we can set up the volume equation for the box using the given dimensional expressions: volume = width x length x height, which for this box is x x (x + 5) x (3x - 1). Now we solve the equation for x given that the volume in cubic inches is equal to 7.6 x 1,728 inches.

Once x is found, we can determine the width, length, and height by plugging x back into the expressions x, x + 5, and 3x - 1, respectively, and rounding each to the nearest inch.

Answer 2

The volume of a cuboid is given by length × width × height

We have:

Volume = 7.6 ft³
Height = 3x - 1
Length = x + 5
Width = x

Substituting these into the formula, we have:

7.6 = (3x - 1) (x + 5) (x)
7.6 = [3x² + 15x - x - 5] (x)
7.6 = [3x² + 14x - 5](x)
7.6 = 3x³ + 14x² - 5x
0 = 3x³ + 14x² - 5x - 7.6

Drawing the graph is one way of finding the solution (refer to the graph below):

We have three solutions (where the curve crosses the x-axis):
x = -4.9
x = -0.6
x = 0.8

Putting these solutions back into the context, since we are looking for the value of x which is part of measurement of length, we cannot have negative value, so we will take the value of x = 0.8 ft

Converting 0.8 ft into inches = 0.8 × 12 inches = 9.6 inches

Answer: x = 9.6 inches