document.write( "Question 467363: Could you help me with this tough question?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"An open box is to be constructed from 84 square inches of material. What should be the dimensions of the base if the height of the box is to be 2 inches? Surface Area: \"S=+x%5E2+%2B+4xh+\"
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #320700 by Theo(13342)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If you are just looking for surface area, then the solution by Ankar is correct.
\n" ); document.write( "you have 84 square inches of surface area and you are removing 16 square inches of surface area and you are left with 68 square inches of surface area.
\n" ); document.write( "If you are assuming that the bottom of the box is square, than Ankar is correct again.
\n" ); document.write( "You start with 84 square inches.
\n" ); document.write( "You take the square root of 84 to get 9.16515139 inches on a side.
\n" ); document.write( "That means your length is 9.16515139 inches and your Width is 9.16515139 inches.
\n" ); document.write( "You remove a 2 inch by 2 inch section from each of the 4 corners.
\n" ); document.write( "You then fold up the flaps on each end that are 2 inches in width. These will form the sides of the box that are 2 inches in height.
\n" ); document.write( "You are left with a box that has a length of 5.16515139 inches and a width of 5.16515139 inches and a height of 2 inches.
\n" ); document.write( "If you let L = length and W = width and H = height, then the formula for Volume (V) and for Surface Area (SA) will be:
\n" ); document.write( "V = L * W * H
\n" ); document.write( "SA =(L * W) + (2 * H * L) + (2 * H * W)
\n" ); document.write( "This comes out to be:
\n" ); document.write( "V = 5.16515139 * 5.16515139 * 2 = 53.35757776 cubic inches.
\n" ); document.write( "SA = (5.16515139 * 5.16515139) + (2 * 2 * 5.16515139) + (2 * 2 * 5.16515139) = 68 square inches.
\n" ); document.write( "If you recall what Ankar said, the Surface Area should be:
\n" ); document.write( "84 square inches minus 16 square inches = 68 square inches.
\n" ); document.write( "Since we also came up with a Surface Area of 68 square inches the long way, we're good.
\n" ); document.write( "Since L = W because the bottom of the box is square, then we can change the formulas around just a little.
\n" ); document.write( "We'll let S represent L and S represent W.
\n" ); document.write( "S means Side.
\n" ); document.write( "Your formula for Volume will change as follows:
\n" ); document.write( "V = L * W * H becomes:
\n" ); document.write( "V = S * S * H which becomes:
\n" ); document.write( "V = S^2 * H.
\n" ); document.write( "Your formula for Surface Area will change as follows:
\n" ); document.write( "SA = (L * W) + (2 * H * L) + (2 * H * W) becomes:
\n" ); document.write( "SA = (S * S) + (2 * H * S) + (2 * H * S) which becomes:
\n" ); document.write( "SA = S^2 + (4 * H * S)
\n" ); document.write( "Written without the multiplication signs, this becomes:
\n" ); document.write( "SA = S^2 + 4HS
\n" ); document.write( "If you replace H with h and you replace S with x, then you get:
\n" ); document.write( "SA = x^2 + 4xh
\n" ); document.write( "That's the formula you showed above, so we're doing the right thing.
\n" ); document.write( "The formula you showed said that S = x^2 + 4xh.
\n" ); document.write( "Replace SA with S and you have your formula.
\n" ); document.write( "Ankar is right to assume the bottom of the box is square.
\n" ); document.write( "It can only be square if all the sides are of equal length.
\n" ); document.write( "It can only be square, if the formula for Surface Area is as shown.
\n" ); document.write( "You were asked to find the value of x.
\n" ); document.write( "The value of x is equal to 5.16515139
\n" ); document.write( "This was the value of L and W and, subsequently S, that we found above..
\n" ); document.write( "This can be rounded to whatever number of decimal places you require.
\n" ); document.write( "If no rounding is required, then leave it as is.
\n" ); document.write( "Round to:
\n" ); document.write( "1 decimal place and x = 5.2
\n" ); document.write( "2 decimal places and x = 5.17
\n" ); document.write( "3 decimal places and x = 5.165
\n" ); document.write( "4 decimal places and x = 5.1652
\n" ); document.write( "etc. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );