Question

Maureen made a two-layer cake for her brother's graduation party. Both layers are 1 1/2 inches tall and shaped like rectangular prisms. The bottom layer is 24 inches long and 16 inches wide, while the top layer is 20 inches long and 12 inches wide. What is the total volume of the cake? Write your answer as a whole number, proper fraction, or mixed number.

Answer 1

The total volume of the two-layer cake, with a bottom layer measuring 24 inches by 16 inches by 1.5 inches, and a top layer measuring 20 inches by 12 inches by 1.5 inches, is 936 cubic inches.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the total volume of the cake, we need to find the volume of both rectangular prism layers and then add them together.

Volume of the Bottom Layer

The formula for the volume of a rectangular prism is length × width × height. Thus, the volume of the bottom layer is:

24 inches (length) × 16 inches (width) × 1.5 inches (height) = 576 cubic inches.

Volume of the Top Layer

Similarly, the volume of the top layer is:

20 inches (length) × 12 inches (width) × 1.5 inches (height) = 360 cubic inches.

Total Volume of the Cake

Finally, the total volume is:

576 cubic inches (bottom layer) + 360 cubic inches (top layer) = 936 cubic inches.

The total volume of the cake is 936 cubic inches.