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Changing Areas, Changing Volumes

Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Secondary curriculum
  • Problem
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This problem follows on from Changing Areas, Changing Perimeters.
 
Changing Areas, Changing Volumes printable sheet

 
Here are the dimensions of nine cuboids. You can download a set of cards here.
 

 
1 by 2 by 28
cuboid  
 
 
4 by 4 by 4
cube
 
 
2 by 4 by 7
cuboid  
 
 
1 by 2 by 26
cuboid  
 
 
2 by 4 by 6
cuboid  
 
 
4 by 5 by 6
cuboid  
 
 
4 by 5 by 7
cuboid  
 
 
1 by 2 by 24
cuboid  
 
 
1 by 4 by 14
cuboid  
 


The challenge is to arrange them in a 3 by 3 grid like the one below:
 area and volume grid
 
 As you go from left to right, the surface area of the shapes must increase.
As you go from top to bottom, the volume of the shapes must increase.
All the cuboids in the middle column must have the same surface area.
All the cuboids on the middle row must have the same volume.

What reasoning can you use to help you to decide where each cuboid must go?
 

Once you've placed the nine cards, take a look at the extended grid below:
 extended grid
The ticks represent the nine cards you've already placed. Can you create cards with dimensions for cuboids that could go in the four blank spaces that satisfy the same criteria? 
 
 
Can you design a set of cards of your own with a different cuboid in the centre?

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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