The volume of a prism is the product of its height and the area of its base, V = B h.

Given: V = 16y^4 + 16y^3 + 48y^2 cubic units.

Which could be the base area and height of the prism?

A. Base area: 4y square units; Height: 4y^2 + 4y + 12 units

B. Base area: 8y^2 square units; Height: y^2 + 2y + 4 units

C. Base area: 12y square units; Height: 4y^2 + 4y + 36 units

D. Base area: 16y^2 square units; Height: y^2 + y + 3 units

1 answer

To solve this problem, we need to find compatible pairs of base areas and heights that would yield the given volume \( V = 16y^4 + 16y^3 + 48y^2 \).

Using the formula for the volume of a prism, \( V = B \cdot h \), we can express this as \( B \cdot h = 16y^4 + 16y^3 + 48y^2 \).

To find possible pairs, we can use the given base areas and heights and check if their product equals the volume:

A. Base area: \( B = 4y \) square units; Height: \( h = 4y^2 + 4y + 12 \) units

\[ V = B \cdot h = 4y \cdot (4y^2 + 4y + 12) = 4y \cdot 4y^2 + 4y \cdot 4y + 4y \cdot 12 \]

Calculating each term:

  • \( 4y \cdot 4y^2 = 16y^3 \)
  • \( 4y \cdot 4y = 16y^2 \)
  • \( 4y \cdot 12 = 48y \)

Thus:

\[ V = 16y^3 + 16y^2 + 48y \]

This is not equal to the volume \( 16y^4 + 16y^3 + 48y^2 \).


B. Base area: \( B = 8y^2 \) square units; Height: \( h = y^2 + 2y + 4 \) units

\[ V = B \cdot h = 8y^2 \cdot (y^2 + 2y + 4) = 8y^2 \cdot y^2 + 8y^2 \cdot 2y + 8y^2 \cdot 4 \]

Calculating each term:

  • \( 8y^2 \cdot y^2 = 8y^4 \)
  • \( 8y^2 \cdot 2y = 16y^3 \)
  • \( 8y^2 \cdot 4 = 32y^2 \)

Thus:

\[ V = 8y^4 + 16y^3 + 32y^2 \]

This is not equal to the volume \( 16y^4 + 16y^3 + 48y^2 \).


C. Base area: \( B = 12y \) square units; Height: \( h = 4y^2 + 4y + 36 \) units

\[ V = B \cdot h = 12y \cdot (4y^2 + 4y + 36) = 12y \cdot 4y^2 + 12y \cdot 4y + 12y \cdot 36 \]

Calculating each term:

  • \( 12y \cdot 4y^2 = 48y^3 \)
  • \( 12y \cdot 4y = 48y^2 \)
  • \( 12y \cdot 36 = 432y \)

Thus:

\[ V = 48y^3 + 48y^2 + 432y \]

This is not equal to the volume \( 16y^4 + 16y^3 + 48y^2 \).


D. Base area: \( B = 16y^2 \) square units; Height: \( h = y^2 + y + 3 \) units

\[ V = B \cdot h = 16y^2 \cdot (y^2 + y + 3) = 16y^2 \cdot y^2 + 16y^2 \cdot y + 16y^2 \cdot 3 \]

Calculating each term:

  • \( 16y^2 \cdot y^2 = 16y^4 \)
  • \( 16y^2 \cdot y = 16y^3 \)
  • \( 16y^2 \cdot 3 = 48y^2 \)

Thus:

\[ V = 16y^4 + 16y^3 + 48y^2 \]

This is equal to the volume \( 16y^4 + 16y^3 + 48y^2 \).

Therefore, the correct answer is:

D. Base area: 16y^2 square units; Height: y^2 + y + 3 units.