ISEE Upper Level Math : Cubes

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Length Of An Edge Of A Cube

There is a sculpture in front of town hall which is shaped like a cube. If it has a volume of  \(\displaystyle 343ft^3\), what is the length of one side of the cube?

 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 14ft\)

\(\displaystyle 49ft\)

\(\displaystyle 7ft\)

\(\displaystyle 49ft^2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 7ft\)

Explanation:

There is a sculpture in front of town hall which is shaped like a cube. If it has a volume of  \(\displaystyle 343ft^3\), what is the length of one side of the cube?

To find the side length of a cube from its volume, simply use the following formula:

\(\displaystyle V_{cube}=s^3\)

Plug in what is known and use some algebra to get our answer:

\(\displaystyle s=\sqrt[3]{343ft^3}=7ft\)

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of An Edge Of A Cube

You have a cube with a volume of \(\displaystyle 125 m^3\). What is the cube's side length?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 25m\)

\(\displaystyle 10m\)

\(\displaystyle 5m\)

\(\displaystyle 15m\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 5m\)

Explanation:

You have a cube with a volume of \(\displaystyle 125 m^3\). What is the cube's side length?

If we begin with the formula for volume of a cube, we can work backwards to find the side length.

\(\displaystyle V_{cube}=s^3\)

\(\displaystyle 125m^3=s^3\)

\(\displaystyle s=\sqrt[3]{125m^3}=5m\)

Making our answer:

\(\displaystyle 5m\)

Example Question #51 : Solid Geometry

Cube

The above cube has surface area 486. Evaluate \(\displaystyle x\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x =2\)

\(\displaystyle x = 16\)

\(\displaystyle x = 63\)

\(\displaystyle x = 9\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x = 16\)

Explanation:

The surface area of a cube is six times the square of the length of each edge, which here is \(\displaystyle x- 7\). Therefore,

\(\displaystyle 6s^{2} = A\)

Substituting, then solving for \(\displaystyle x\):

\(\displaystyle 6 (x-7)^{2} = 486\)

\(\displaystyle 6 (x-7)^{2} \div 6 = 486 \div 6\)

\(\displaystyle (x-7)^{2} = 81\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{(x-7)^{2} }= \sqrt{81}\)

Since the sidelength is positive, 

\(\displaystyle x- 7 = 9\)

\(\displaystyle x = 16\)

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Length Of An Edge Of A Cube

You have a crate with equal dimensions (height, length and width). If the volume of the cube is \(\displaystyle 216 m^3\), what is the length of one of the crate's dimension?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12 m\)

\(\displaystyle 36m\)

Not enough information to solve the equation.

\(\displaystyle 6 m\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6 m\)

Explanation:

You have a crate with equal dimensions (height, length and width). If the volume of the cube is \(\displaystyle 216 m^3\), what is the length of one of the crate's dimension?

Let's begin with realizing that we are dealing with a cube. A crate with equal dimensions will have equal height, length, and width, so it must be a cube.

With that in mind, we can find our side length by starting with the volume and working backward.

\(\displaystyle V=s^3\)

So, to find our side length, we just need to take the cubed root of the volume.

\(\displaystyle s=\sqrt[3]{216m^3}=6m\)

So, our answer is 6 meters, a fairly large crate!

Example Question #6 : How To Find The Length Of An Edge Of A Cube

If the volume of a cube is 30, what must be the length of the edge of the cube?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt{10}}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{30}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{30}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{30}\)

Explanation:

Write the formula to find the volume of a cube.

\(\displaystyle V=s^3\)

Substitute the volume into the equation.

\(\displaystyle 30=s^3\)

Cube root both sides.

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{30}=\sqrt[3]{s^3}\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{30}\)

Example Question #371 : Geometry

You have a cube with a volume of \(\displaystyle 125 m^3\). What is the cube's side length?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 20m\)

\(\displaystyle 25m\)

\(\displaystyle 5m\)

\(\displaystyle 10m\)

\(\displaystyle 15m\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 5m\)

Explanation:

You have a cube with a volume of \(\displaystyle 125 m^3\). What is the cube's side length?

If we begin with the formula for volume of a cube, we can work backwards to find the side length.

\(\displaystyle V_{cube}=s^3\)

\(\displaystyle 125m^3=s^3\)

\(\displaystyle s=\sqrt[3]{125m^3}=5m\)

Making our answer:

\(\displaystyle 5m\)

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