Question

A planter box has dimensions 30 in × 15 in × 18 in (Length × Width × Height).

a. Find the volume of the box in cubic feet and in cubic yards.
b. Potting soil is sold in 1.5 cubic-foot bags, and each bag weighs 11.2 pounds. How many
pounds of soil does the box hold?
c. You’d like to paint the sides (but not the bottom) of the planter box. You plan on
applying one coat of paint. How many square feet of paint will you need?
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Answer 1

Okay, let's solve this step-by-step:

a)

Length = 30 in = 2.5 ft

Width = 15 in = 1.25 ft

Height = 18 in = 1.5 ft

Volume (cubic ft) = Length x Width x Height

= 2.5 x 1.25 x 1.5 = 3.75 cubic ft

Volume (cubic yards) = 3.75 / 27 = 0.14 cubic yards

b)

Since the box volume is 3.75 cubic ft and potting soil bags are 1.5 cubic ft,

you will need 3.75 / 1.5 = 2.5 bags of soil.

Each bag weighs 11.2 lbs, so 2.5 bags will weigh 2.5 * 11.2 = 28 lbs of soil.

c)

To paint the sides of the box, you need:

Length (2 sides) = 30 in x 2 = 60 in

Width (2 sides) = 15 in x 2 = 30 in

Height (4 sides) = 18 in x 4 = 72 in

Total inches of sides = 60 + 30 + 72 = 162 in

Conversion: 162 in / 12 in = 13.5 square ft

So you will need about 14 square feet of paint.

Let me know if you have any other questions!