Final answer:
The volume of a stack of 100 bills with dimensions 3 in. by 6 in. by 0.5 in. is 9 cubic inches. For larger sums, this volume is multiplied by the number of stacks needed. While interesting, this calculation doesn't reflect how currency is actually circulated or stored, as most money exists in digital form.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the volume of a stack of 100 bills, we need to use the formula for the volume of a rectangular prism, which is length × width × height. The dimensions given for a single bill are 3 inches by 6 inches, and 100 bills stacked together are said to be about 0.5 inches thick. Therefore, the volume of 100 bills can be calculated as follows:
Volume = Length × Width × Height
Volume = 3 in. × 6 in. × 0.5 in. = 9 cubic inches.
To consider a large sum, such as one trillion dollars, we can multiply the volume of a single stack by the number of stacks required to reach that sum. Once we have the total volume, we could equate it to the volume above a football field to find out the height of money if spread evenly across the field.
It's important to note that while theoretical exercises like these can be interesting, they don't represent how currency is actually handled or stored in reality. Most money is not in physical form but exists digitally as credits and debits within banking systems. The total amount of U.S. currency in circulation is not typically piled up in one location but is spread across banks, businesses, and individual holders.