Boxes

Geometry Level 1


Suppose that the two boxes above have the same surface area and that the three dimensions of the cuboid are not all the same. Which one has a larger volume?

Cube Cuboid They are equal Not enough information

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3 solutions

Kushal Bose
May 26, 2017

Let side of length of cube is a a and dimensions of cuboid is p , q , r p,q,r where these three not all equal.

So, 6 a 2 = 2 ( p q + r q + p r ) > 2.3 ( p q r ) 2 / 3 6 a^2=2(pq+rq+pr) > 2.3 (pqr)^{2/3} (Using AM-GM) equality will not be there because these three can not be equal then this will become a cube.

a 2 > ( p q r ) 2 / 3 = > a > ( p q r ) 1 / 3 = > a 3 > p q r a^2 > (pqr)^{2/3} => a > (pqr)^{1/3} => a^3 > pqr \implies Volume of Cube > Volume of Cuboid

let 2 , 3 2,3 and 5 5 be the dimensions of the cuboid. so the surface area is 2 [ 2 ( 3 ) + 3 ( 5 ) + 2 ( 5 ) ] = 62 2[2(3)+3(5)+2(5)]=62 and the volume is 2 ( 3 ) ( 5 ) = 30 2(3)(5)=30 .

from the surface area of the cuboid, the side length of the cube is 62 6 = 31 3 \sqrt{\dfrac{62}{6}}=\sqrt{\dfrac{31}{3}} so the volume of the cube is 33.22 \approx 33.22

\huge\therefore With equal surface areas, the cube has a larger volume. \text{With equal surface areas, the cube has a larger volume.}

A specific example does not generalize. In particular, it is a proof by example mistake.

Christopher Boo - 4 years ago
Choong Min Um
Jun 7, 2017

You can use a Lagrange multiplier.

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