Problema Solution

A loaf of bread is a perfect cube. Five slices of bread (each 0.6 inches thick) are cut from one end of the loaf. The remainder of the loaf now has a volume of 235 cubic inches. What are the dimensions of the original loaf?

Answer provided by our tutors

Let 'a' represent the length of the side of the cube.

V = a^3 is the volume of the cube

The volume of one slice of bread is: 

V1 = a^2*0.6

The volume of five slices of bread is:

5V1 = 5*0.6*a^2 = 3a^2

The reminder of the volume is 235 in^3:

a^3 - 3a^2 = 235

a^2(a - 3) = 235

a = 7.35 in

Indeed: 7.35^2(7.35 - 3) = 235 in^3 approximately.

The dimension of the original loaf is 7.35 inches.