Two identical rectangular prisms, each with a height of 90 …

Mathematics Questions

Two identical rectangular prisms, each with a height of 90 centimeters, have square bases. The surface area of each prism is K cm². If the prisms are glued together along their square bases, the resulting prism has a surface area of (92/47)K cm². What is the side length of each square base in centimeters? A) 4 B) 8 C) 9 D) 16

Short Answer

The solution begins by defining the side length of squares as ‘s’ and setting up surface area equations for a rectangular prism. After deriving and simplifying the equations, the side length is found to be ‘s = 8 cm.’

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1: Define the Variables

Start by letting s represent the side length of each square. This variable will be essential for all calculations involving the surface area of the rectangular prism. Understanding the problem setup is crucial as we’ll work through equations to derive s.

Step 2: Set Up the Surface Area Equations

Use the formula for the surface area of the rectangular prism, which can be expressed as 360·s + 2·s². Additionally, for prisms glued along a square base, the surface area becomes 720·s + 2·s². Establish the equations as follows:

  • Equation (1): 720¬¨‚àës + 2¬¨‚àës¬¨‚â§ = (92/47)¬¨‚àëk
  • Equation (2): 360¬¨‚àës + 2¬¨‚àës¬¨‚â§ = k

Step 3: Solve for Side Length

With both equations established, subtract Equation (2) from Equation (1) to eliminate k and consolidate terms involving s. This leads to:

  • 360¬¨‚àës = (45/47)¬¨‚àëk
  • Rearranging gives 2¬¨‚àës¬¨‚â§ – 16¬¨‚àës = 0

Factoring results in 2¬¨‚àës(s – 8) = 0, yielding s = 8 cm as the solution for the side length of the square.

Related Concepts

Variable

A symbol used to represent a quantity that can change or vary, often denoted by letters such as s in the context of mathematical equations.

Surface Area

The total area that the surface of a three-dimensional object occupies, which for a rectangular prism can be calculated using specific formulas involving the lengths of its edges.

Equation

A mathematical statement that asserts the equality of two expressions, typically containing variables and constants, used to solve for unknowns in algebraic problems.

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