Difference between revisions of "2009 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 5"

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Let the original cube have edge length <math>a</math>. Then its volume is <math>a^3</math>.
 
Let the original cube have edge length <math>a</math>. Then its volume is <math>a^3</math>.
 
The new box has dimensions <math>a-1</math>, <math>a</math>, and <math>a+1</math>, hence its volume is <math>(a-1)a(a+1) = a^3-a</math>.  
 
The new box has dimensions <math>a-1</math>, <math>a</math>, and <math>a+1</math>, hence its volume is <math>(a-1)a(a+1) = a^3-a</math>.  
The difference between the two volumes is <math>a</math>. As we are given that the difference is <math>5</math>, we have <math>a=5</math>, and the volume of the original cube was <math>5^3 = 125\Rightarrow\boxed{(D)}</math>.
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The difference between the two volumes is <math>a</math>. As we are given that the difference is <math>5</math>, we have <math>a=5</math>, and the volume of the original cube was <math>5^3 = 125\Rightarrow\boxed{\text{(D)}}</math>.
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
  
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{{AMC10 box|year=2009|ab=A|num-b=10|num-a=12}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2009|ab=A|num-b=4|num-a=6}}
 
{{AMC12 box|year=2009|ab=A|num-b=4|num-a=6}}
{{AMC10 box|year=2009|ab=A|num-b=10|num-a=12}}
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[[Category:Introductory Geometry Problems]]
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[[Category:3D Geometry Problems]]
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{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 18:53, 16 February 2014

The following problem is from both the 2009 AMC 12A #5 and 2009 AMC 10A #11, so both problems redirect to this page.

Problem

One dimension of a cube is increased by $1$, another is decreased by $1$, and the third is left unchanged. The volume of the new rectangular solid is $5$ less than that of the cube. What was the volume of the cube?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 8 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 27 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 64 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 125 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 216$

Solution

Let the original cube have edge length $a$. Then its volume is $a^3$. The new box has dimensions $a-1$, $a$, and $a+1$, hence its volume is $(a-1)a(a+1) = a^3-a$. The difference between the two volumes is $a$. As we are given that the difference is $5$, we have $a=5$, and the volume of the original cube was $5^3 = 125\Rightarrow\boxed{\text{(D)}}$.

See Also

2009 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 10
Followed by
Problem 12
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions
2009 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 4
Followed by
Problem 6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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