SOLUTION: I submitted an equation not to long ago with no response so I tried the problem again and i only got this far. What are the dimensions of a box with NO top that is to be built i

Algebra ->  Expressions-with-variables -> SOLUTION: I submitted an equation not to long ago with no response so I tried the problem again and i only got this far. What are the dimensions of a box with NO top that is to be built i      Log On


   



Question 242957: I submitted an equation not to long ago with no response so I tried the problem again and i only got this far.
What are the dimensions of a box with NO top that is to be built if the combined area of the sides and bottom are going to be 68ft^2 and the volume is 32ft^3.
My futile attempt:
This question is in a chapter about nonlinear systems so i set up two equations.
yx%5E2=32 (for the volume)
4yx%2Bx%5E2=68 (for the combined areas of the sides and bottom)
solved for y in first equation and substituted it into the second:
4x%2832%2Fx%5E2%29%2Bx%5E2=68 simplifying I got x%5E3-68x%2B128 and that is where i got stuck. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What are the dimensions of a box with NO top that is to be built if the combined area of the sides and bottom are going to be 68ft^2 and the volume is 32ft^3.
My futile attempt:
This question is in a chapter about nonlinear systems so i set up two equations.
yx%5E2=32 (for the volume)
4yx%2Bx%5E2=68 (for the combined areas of the sides and bottom)
solved for y in first equation and substituted it into the second:
4x%2832%2Fx%5E2%29%2Bx%5E2=68 simplifying I got x%5E3-68x%2B128 and that is where i got stuck. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
---------------------
2 is a zero of the cubic.
If yx^2 = 32, then y = 8
------------------------
You assume the bottom is square, it might not be.