Volumes of two similar solid objects are in the ratio 24:8124:81. If surface area of larger solid is 540540cm^2cm2, what is the surface area of smaller object?

1 Answer
Sep 12, 2016

Surface area of smaller object is 240240 cm^2cm2

Explanation:

In two such similar three dimensional objects,

while mass is proportional to volume (assuming the objects are made of same material and their density is same as well as they are not hollow), volume is proportional to it cube of its 'length'. This means if length, mass and volume of smaller objects are L_sLs, m_sms and V_sVs and those of larger objects are L_lLl, m_lml and V_lVl, then

m_s/m_l=V_s/V_l=(L_s/L_l)^3msml=VsVl=(LsLl)3 and hence

24/81=(L_s/L_l)^32481=(LsLl)3 or

L_s/L_l=root(3)24/81=root(3)8/27=2/3LsLl=32481=3827=23

But surface area is proportional to square of its 'length' and if surface areas of smaller and larger objects are S_sSs and S_lSl, then

S_s/S_l=(L_s/L_l)^2SsSl=(LsLl)2

Hence S_s/540=(2/3)^2=4/9Ss540=(23)2=49

and S_s=4/9xx540=4/(1cancel9)xx60cancel540=240

Hence Surface area of smaller object is 240 cm^2