Question

A designer is creating various open-top boxes by cutting four equally-sized squares from the corners of a standard sheet of 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper, and then folding up and securing the resulting 'flaps' to be the sides of the box. Let x represent the varying side length of the square cutouts in inches. Let l , w , and h represent the varying length, width and height of the box (in inches), respectively. Note that the width and length dimensions are such that w < l . Let V represent the varying volume of the box in cubic inches. Write formulas for length, width, and volume of the box, each in terms of x .

Answer 1

L(x) = 11 - 2x

W(x) = 8.5 - 2x

V(x) = 4x³ - 39x² + 93.5x

Explanation:

If a square of x sides length is cut from each corner of the sheet, then it meas the length and width of the box a shortened by x inces from each side, giving a total subtraction of 2 times x inches.

FORMULA FOR LENGTH:

Since, Length is the bigger side of the box. Therefore, it will be taken on 11 inches side of the paper:

L(x) = 11 - 2x

FORMULA FOR WIDTH:

Since, width is the smaller side of the box. Therefore, it will be taken on 8.5 inches side of the paper:

W(x) = 8.5 - 2x

FORMULA FOR VOLUME:

Volume is the product of length, width and time:

V(x) = L(x)*W(x)*H(x)

Height must be equal to the side folds which are equal to length of the side of square = x:

H(x) = x

Therefore,

V(x) = (11 - 2x)(8.5 - 2x)(x)

V(x) = (93.5 -22x -17x + 4x²)(x)

V(x) = 4x³ - 39x² + 93.5x