Problema Solution

Janet is measuring the dimensions of the rectangular pit she has made for the compost for her plants and finds that the dimensions are 2.52 m×1.53 m×1.28 m

2.52 m×1.53 m×1.28 m

.

If she had measured it 2 cm

2 cm

less than the actual measurement for each of the dimensions, which of the following statements is true?

A.

The volume that Janet gets would be about 8 cm 3

8 cm3

greater than the actual volume.

B.

The volume that Janet gets would be about 8 cm 3

8 cm3

less than the actual volume.

C.

The volume that Janet gets would be about 12 cm 3

12 cm3

less than the actual volume.

D.The volume that Janet gets would be about 18 cm 3

18 cm3

less than the actual volume

Answer provided by our tutors

The volume is the product of each dimension, so 2^3 represents the amount of the volume that is lost by measuring 2cm shorter than expected. 

2^3

click here to simplify

8

So 8cm^3 is less than the expected volume.  Of course, referring to "actual volume" is ambiguous because the actual volume might refer to the actual measures she expected rather than the actual measures which were dug for the pit...