Substituting the Relationship into the Volume Equation

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 47 views

Introduction

In this article, we will delve into a mathematical problem involving a prism with a square base. The problem requires us to find the dimensions of the box, given its capacity and the relationship between its height and base length. We will use algebraic equations to solve for the unknown variables and determine the correct answer.

Problem Statement

Rachel has a box in the shape of a prism with a square base. The capacity of the box is 150 cubic inches. The height of the box ( $y$ ) is $1 \frac{1}{2}$ times the base length of the box ( $x$ ). We need to find the values of $x$ and $y$ .

Understanding the Problem

To solve this problem, we need to understand the relationship between the volume of the box, its height, and its base length. The volume of a prism with a square base is given by the formula:

V = x^2y

where $V$ is the volume, $x$ is the base length, and $y$ is the height.

Given Information

We are given that the capacity of the box is 150 cubic inches, so we can set up the equation:

x^2y = 150

We are also given that the height of the box ( $y$ ) is $1 \frac{1}{2}$ times the base length of the box ( $x$ ). We can write this as:

y = \frac{3}{2}x

Substituting the Relationship into the Volume Equation

We can substitute the relationship between $y$ and $x$ into the volume equation:

x^2\left(\frac{3}{2}x\right) = 150

Simplifying the equation, we get:

\frac{3}{2}x^3 = 150

Solving for $x$

To solve for $x$ , we can multiply both sides of the equation by $\frac{2}{3}$ :

x^3 = 100

Taking the cube root of both sides, we get:

x = \sqrt[3]{100}

Evaluating the Cube Root

The cube root of 100 is 4.64 (rounded to two decimal places). Therefore, the base length of the box ( $x$ ) is approximately 4.64 inches.

Finding the Height

Now that we have found the base length ( $x$ ), we can find the height ( $y$ ) using the relationship:

y = \frac{3}{2}x

Substituting the value of $x$ , we get:

y = \frac{3}{2}(4.64)

Simplifying the equation, we get:

y = 6.96

Conclusion

In this article, we solved a mathematical problem involving a prism with a square base. We used algebraic equations to find the dimensions of the box, given its capacity and the relationship between its height and base length. We found that the base length of the box ( $x$ ) is approximately 4.64 inches and the height ( $y$ ) is approximately 6.96 inches.

Final Answer

$The final answer is: $\boxed{4.64}$<br/> **Prism Problem Q&A**$

Introduction

In our previous article, we solved a mathematical problem involving a prism with a square base. We used algebraic equations to find the dimensions of the box, given its capacity and the relationship between its height and base length. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to the problem.

Q: What is the formula for the volume of a prism with a square base?

A: The formula for the volume of a prism with a square base is:

V = x^2y

where $V$ is the volume, $x$ is the base length, and $y$ is the height.

Q: What is the relationship between the height and base length of the prism?

A: The height of the prism ( $y$ ) is $1 \frac{1}{2}$ times the base length of the prism ( $x$ ). This can be written as:

y = \frac{3}{2}x

Q: How do I solve for the base length ( $x$ ) of the prism?

A: To solve for the base length ( $x$ ) of the prism, you can use the equation:

x^2y = 150

Substitute the relationship between $y$ and $x$ into the equation:

x^2\left(\frac{3}{2}x\right) = 150

Simplify the equation:

\frac{3}{2}x^3 = 150

Multiply both sides of the equation by $\frac{2}{3}$ :

x^3 = 100

Take the cube root of both sides:

x = \sqrt[3]{100}

Q: What is the value of the base length ( $x$ ) of the prism?

A: The value of the base length ( $x$ ) of the prism is approximately 4.64 inches.

Q: How do I find the height ( $y$ ) of the prism?

A: To find the height ( $y$ ) of the prism, you can use the relationship:

y = \frac{3}{2}x

Substitute the value of $x$ into the equation:

y = \frac{3}{2}(4.64)

Simplify the equation:

y = 6.96

Q: What is the value of the height ( $y$ ) of the prism?

A: The value of the height ( $y$ ) of the prism is approximately 6.96 inches.

Q: What is the capacity of the prism?

A: The capacity of the prism is 150 cubic inches.

Q: What is the shape of the base of the prism?

A: The shape of the base of the prism is a square.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions related to the prism problem. We provided the formula for the volume of a prism with a square base, the relationship between the height and base length of the prism, and the steps to solve for the base length and height of the prism. We also provided the values of the base length and height of the prism.

Final Answer

The final answer is: $\boxed{4.64}$