Question

Caros makes wooden boxes without tops to use as flower planters. Each wooden box has a width of 14 inches and a height of 24 inches. The length of the box (x) varies depending on the type of flowers Carlos will plant. Which equation can be used to find the surface area (y ), in square inches, of a wooden box that has a length of x inches? Use the distributive property to help you solve.

Answer 1

y = 2(31x + 336)

Explanation:

The surface area of an open rectangular box of sides, l, w and h is

A = 2lh + 2wh + lw where l = length = x, w = width = 14 in and h = height = 24 in.

Since A = y, we have

y = 2lh + 2wh + lw

y = 2x(24) + 2(24)(14) + x(14)

y = 48x + 672 + 14x

y = 62x + 672

y = 2(31x + 336)