document.write( "Question 1177914: There are 4 identical wooden blocks that are 20 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick. If you glue them together, what is the difference of the largest and smallest outer surface area you can get? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #807064 by ikleyn(52847) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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\n" ); document.write( "There are 4 identical wooden blocks that are 20 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick.
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document.write( "Obviously, to get the MAXIMUM surface area, you should glue the blocks together, attaching them at the minimal area faces.\r\n" );
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document.write( "So, you will get the MAXIMUM surface are, attaching the blocks at their 1x2 inches faces.\r\n" );
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document.write( "You will get then very long clued block with the length of 20*4 = 80 inches, the width of 2 inches and the thick of 1 inch.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Surface area of such a block is  2*(80*2 + 80*1 + 1*2) = 484 square inches.\r\n" );
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document.write( "To get the MINIMUM surface area, you should glue the blocks, attaching them together at their maximal area faces.\r\n" );
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document.write( "So, you will get the MINIMUM surface are, attaching the blocks at their 20x2 inches faces.\r\n" );
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document.write( "You will get then quite thick clued block with the length of 20 inches, the width of 2 inches and the thick of 4 inch.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Surface area of such a block is  2*(20*2 + 20*4 + 4*2) = 256 square inches.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Thus the difference of the largest and smallest outer surface area you can get is  484 - 256 = 228 square inches.\r\n" );
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Nice entertainment problem.\r
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