Answer:
1.8 cans of paint are needed
Explanation:
A large statue has a volume of 135 m³ and an area of 81 m², while a small statue has a volume of 5 m³. You want to know the number of cans of paint required to paint the small statue, if each can covers 5 m².
Scale factor
The ratio of linear dimensions on the small statue to those on the large statue is the cube root of their volume ratio:
sf = ∛(5/135) = ∛(1/27) = 1/3
Area
The area of the small statue is the larger statue's area multiplied by the square of the scale factor:
smaller area = larger area × (sf)²
smaller area = (81 m²)(1/3)² = 9 m²
Paint
Each can of paint covers 5 m², so the number of cans required is ...
(9 m²)/(5 m²/can) = 1.8 cans
You will need 1.8 cans of paint to paint the small statue.
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Additional comment
If you must pay for whole cans of paint, you must buy 2 cans of paint.