# What is the surface area of an open box with a square base that has a volume of 5000 cubic inches and each side of the square has is 10 inches long.

The problem requests for you to evaluate the surface area of the opened square base box, hence, you need to use the following formula, such that:

`SA = x^2 + 4x*y`

`x^2 ` represents the area of square base

`x*y` represents the area of one side of box (there exists...

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The problem requests for you to evaluate the surface area of the opened square base box, hence, you need to use the following formula, such that:

`SA = x^2 + 4x*y`

`x^2 ` represents the area of square base

`x*y` represents the area of one side of box (there exists 4 sides)

The problem provides the length of square x = 10 inches, such that:

`SA = 10^2 + 40*y`

The problem provides the volume of box, hence, using the formula of volume, yields:

`V = x^2*y => 5000 = 100*y => y = 50` inches

You need to replace 50 for y in equation of surface area, such that:

`SA = 100 + 40*50 => SA = 2100` square inches

Hence, evaluating the surface area of the opened square base box, under the given conditions, yields `SA = 2100` square inches.

Approved by eNotes Editorial Team

The area of the base of the open box is 5000 cubic inches. The length of each side of the square base is 10 inches.

If the height of the box is h, the volume is 10^2*h.

Equating 100*h to the volume gives 100*h = 5000

=> h = 50

The surface area of the open box is 50*10*4 + 100 = 2100 square inches.

Approved by eNotes Editorial Team