Problema Solution
An aquarium of height 1.5 feet is to have a volume of 12 ft3. Let x denote the length of the base and y the width (see the figure). (Assume the aquarium has an open top.)
Express the total number S of square feet of glass needed as a function of x.
Answer provided by our tutors
volume = width * length * height
well, we need more details from the figure in order to answer this problem without the inclusion of 'y'... in order to have a function in terms of 'x' we need to be able to express 'y' in terms of 'x'
S = 1.5*x*y
if 'y' was twice as long as x, then S=1.5*x*2x... but more information is required
the fact that the aquarium has an open top has no bearing on the volume of the enclosure