SOLUTION: Guess what percentage of the world's population could be packed into a cubical box measuring 1/2 mile on each side. Assume that the world's population is 6.6 billion and that the v

Algebra ->  Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> SOLUTION: Guess what percentage of the world's population could be packed into a cubical box measuring 1/2 mile on each side. Assume that the world's population is 6.6 billion and that the v      Log On


   

Question 427998: Guess what percentage of the world's population could be packed into a cubical box measuring 1/2 mile on each side. Assume that the world's population is 6.6 billion and that the volume of a typical person is about 2 cubic feet.
Answer by Theo(13342) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
each person takes up a volume of 2 cubic feet.

cubical box measures 1/2 mile on each side.

1/2 mile is equal to 5280 / 2 = 2640 feet.

volume of the cubical box is 2640^3 = 1.8399744 * 10^10 cubic feet.

divide that by 2 cubic feet per person and you get 9.199872 * 10^9 persons that can fit into that space.

there are 6.6 billion persons in the world.

that's equivalent to 6.6 * 10^9 persons.

the proportion of persons that can fit into this space is therefore equal to (9.199872 * 10^9) / (6.6 * 10^9) = 9.199872 / 6.6 = 1.39392.

139.392% of the world's population can fit into a space that is 1/2 mile on each side.