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| Question 649546:  REDUCING THE SIZE OF A CANDY BAR
 a jumbo chocolate bar with a rectangular shape measures 12 centimeters in length, 7 centimeters in width, and 3 centimeters in thickness.  Due to escalating costs in cocoa, management decides to reduce the volume of the bar by 20%. too accomplish this reduction, management decides that the new bar should have the same 3 centimeters in thickness, but the length and width of each should be reduced an equal number of centimeters. what should be the dimensions of the new candy bar?
 i know that volume=LWH   which would then be v=(12)(7)(3)   so v=252 cm^3   and then i would multiply by 20% to get 50.4 cm^3      then subtract to get 201.6 cm^3
 then i would set that as   201.6 cm^3 = (3)(L)(W)    divide each side by 3  to get    67.2 cm^3=(L)(W)
 
 Thats where I get stuck...  Thanks!
 Answer by MathTherapy(10556)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! REDUCING THE SIZE OF A CANDY BAR
 a jumbo chocolate bar with a rectangular shape measures 12 centimeters in length, 7 centimeters in width, and 3 centimeters in thickness.  Due to escalating costs in cocoa, management decides to reduce the volume of the bar by 20%. too accomplish this reduction, management decides that the new bar should have the same 3 centimeters in thickness, but the length and width of each should be reduced an equal number of centimeters. what should be the dimensions of the new candy bar?
 i know that volume=LWH   which would then be v=(12)(7)(3)   so v=252 cm^3   and then i would multiply by 20% to get 50.4 cm^3      then subtract to get 201.6 cm^3
 then i would set that as   201.6 cm^3 = (3)(L)(W)    divide each side by 3  to get    67.2 cm^3=(L)(W)
 
 Thats where I get stuck...  Thanks!
 
 Volume of candy bar before reduction = 12 * 7 * 3, or 252
   Reduction by 20% results in a reduced candy bar volume of: .8(252), or 201.6
   Let length of reduced bar be L
 Then width = L also
 Since volume of reduced bar = 201.6, and with thickness being the same (3 cm), then we have: L(L)(3) = 201.6
 
  
  
  ---- This is where you got stuck, but it should be L * L, since L  = W 
   
 L, or length of reduced bar = = 8.2 (rounded). Width = 8.2 (rounded) also.
 
 Dimensions of new candy bar =
     
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