The ratio of side lengths for two similar cubes is 2/5 . Determine the ratios for each of the following. Show your work or explain how you got your answers. a. the perimeter of one face of the smaller cube compared to the perimeter of one face of the larger cube b. the total surface area of the smaller cube compared to the total surface area of the larger cube c. the volume of the smaller cube compared to the volume of the larger cube

1 answer

To determine the ratios for perimeter, surface area, and volume of the smaller cube compared to the larger cube using the given ratio of their side lengths (2/5), we can utilize the properties of similar shapes:

Given that the side lengths of the smaller cube (let's call it \( s_1 \)) and the larger cube (let's call it \( s_2 \)) are in the ratio of \( \frac{s_1}{s_2} = \frac{2}{5} \).

a. The perimeter of one face

The perimeter \( P \) of one face of a cube is given by \( P = 4s \), where \( s \) is the length of a side of the cube.

  1. For the smaller cube: \[ P_{\text{small}} = 4s_1 = 4 \left( \frac{2}{5}s_2 \right) = \frac{8}{5}s_2 \]

  2. For the larger cube: \[ P_{\text{large}} = 4s_2 \]

Now, we find the ratio of the perimeters: \[ \text{Ratio}{\text{perimeter}} = \frac{P{\text{small}}}{P_{\text{large}}} = \frac{\frac{8}{5}s_2}{4s_2} = \frac{8/5}{4} = \frac{8}{20} = \frac{2}{5} \]

b. The total surface area

The surface area \( A \) of a cube is given by \( A = 6s^2 \).

  1. For the smaller cube: \[ A_{\text{small}} = 6s_1^2 = 6 \left( \frac{2}{5}s_2 \right)^2 = 6 \left( \frac{4}{25}s_2^2 \right) = \frac{24}{25}s_2^2 \]

  2. For the larger cube: \[ A_{\text{large}} = 6s_2^2 \]

Now, we find the ratio of the surface areas: \[ \text{Ratio}{\text{surface area}} = \frac{A{\text{small}}}{A_{\text{large}}} = \frac{\frac{24}{25}s_2^2}{6s_2^2} = \frac{24/25}{6} = \frac{24}{150} = \frac{4}{25} \]

c. The volume

The volume \( V \) of a cube is given by \( V = s^3 \).

  1. For the smaller cube: \[ V_{\text{small}} = s_1^3 = \left( \frac{2}{5}s_2 \right)^3 = \frac{8}{125}s_2^3 \]

  2. For the larger cube: \[ V_{\text{large}} = s_2^3 \]

Now, we find the ratio of the volumes: \[ \text{Ratio}{\text{volume}} = \frac{V{\text{small}}}{V_{\text{large}}} = \frac{\frac{8}{125}s_2^3}{s_2^3} = \frac{8}{125} \]

Final Ratios

  • a. The ratio of the perimeter of one face of the smaller cube to the larger cube is \( \frac{2}{5} \).
  • b. The ratio of the total surface area of the smaller cube to the larger cube is \( \frac{4}{25} \).
  • c. The ratio of the volume of the smaller cube to the larger cube is \( \frac{8}{125} \).