Problema Solution

A 7in thick slice is cut off the top of a cube resulting in a rectangular box that has volume 49in^3. Find the side length of the original cube.

Answer provided by our tutors

Let

x = the edge of the cube

x - 7 = the height of the rectangular box after 7 ft slice is cut off the top

The volume of the rectangular box is:

V = x*x*(x - 7)

and V = 49 in^3 thus we have the equation:

x*x*(x - 7) = 49

x^3 - 7x^2 - 49 = 0

x = 11.33 in

The side of the length of the original cube is 11.33 inches.