Resizing Boxes

with Scale
Factors

By: Maggie and Beckie
Class: 630
Published: 5/7/13
Table of contents
Introduction Pg. 1
Information on Boxes Pg. 2-3
Procedure Pg.4
Ratios (Unit Rate) Pg. 5
Analysis Pg.5





















Introduction
For this project, we had to measure and find the dimensions, make nets, find the volume, find the
surface area, and enlarge and reduce a rectangular prism (or triangular prism) of our choice. We
did this project to review out math skills that fall in the category of geometry. We went over how
to draw and use nets to finds the surface area, how to calculate the volume or a three dimensional
figure in cubic units, how to measure with a ruler to find the dimensions (length, width, height)
and also using ratios to help with proportion which builds on to scale factors. We needed to
remember these skills so we can use it for the rest of our lives. An example is, for unit rate, we
will sometimes to need to use it if were at the store and an item says that it costs 5 dollars for 2
boxes of ice cream. We will have unit rate involved in this by finding how much it costs for one
box. We will do 5 dollars divided by 2 which is 2 dollars and 50 cents for a box of ice-cream.
This is not only the reason why we did this project. We also did this project to experience how
math applies to real life. For example, designers (clothes designers, box designers, etc.) can
relate to this project because if they want to make something larger or smaller, theyll need to
know the surface area, the net, the volume, and the dimensions to make the box. It has to be
proportional. If its not proportional, then they also must learn how to use the contents to design
their desired object.












Procedure
To complete the project, we did the following steps:
1. First, we gathered our supplies for the project which includes a rectangular prism (or it
can be a triangular prism) to enlarge and to reduce, a hanger to hang up our finished
boxes, and 2 pieces of white Oak-tag paper because coloring on colored paper is hard to
see.
2. Next, we used a ruler to measure the dimensions of the original box in centimeters which
includes the length, the width, and the height.
3. After that, we found the volume of the box by multiplying the length, width, and the
height together.
4. We also drew a net of the box in our math notebooks.
5. The net helped us to find the surface area of the rectangular prism. We recorded the
surface area in cubic centimeters.
6. After recording the net and finding the surface area, we choose a total of two scale factors
which included one of the scale factor to enlarge the box and the other to reduce the box.
Make sure that you only multiply to change the size of the box. Dividing wont work.
Also, it is recommended to multiply your box less than one if reducing the box and
multiply more than one if enlarging the box.
7. Then, find the new dimensions and the volume of the two single boxes.
8. Draw the net for both enlarged and reduced box.
9. Find the surface area for both enlarged and reduced box.
10. Next, we made a blueprint of the enlarged and the reduced boxes on the Oak-tag paper.
11. After that, cut out the blueprint. It is better to draw half of the box on the Oak-tag paper
twice and then cut them out.
12. Start drafting the designs onto the boxes and then color it to match the original box. If
youre an artist or would like to make your boxes neater, you may draw lines that are
corresponding onto the blueprints to help as a guide. Make sure to erase the lines
completely after you finished coloring.
13. Once we finalized the box, we made our report by adding an introduction that explains
why we did this project, a procedure that talks about the steps you took to finish the
project, the dimension, volume, nets, and the surface area of the enlarged box, reduced
box, and the original box. Also, the ratios of the original to reduced box, original to
enlarged box, and the reduced and enlarged box that is comparing the volume and the
ratios of the original to reduced box, original to enlarged box, and the reduced and
enlarged box that is comparing the surface area.
14. Lastly, we include an analysis mentioning what we noticed from the ratios. See how it
adds up, subtracts, and more.
These are the steps we did to complete this project.

Ratios (Unit rate):
Volume
1: 0.636056 (Original to Reduced box) 0.57
1: 0.489690821 (Original to Enlarged box) 2.4 (negative)
1: 0.129463871 (Reduced to Enlarged box) 3.771 (negative)
Surface Area
1: 0.072106203 (Original to Reduced box)
1: 2.89 (Original to Enlarged box)
1: 3.907517577 (Reduced to Enlarged box)



Analysis:
I noticed that the ratios for the volume go from biggest to the smallest. I think that this is because
they are comparing different boxes. For example, the enlarged box can have two different
numbers in the second and third ratio because the second ratio is comparing with the original and
second box is comparing with the reduced box. For the surface area, the ratios are the opposite of
the volume; they are going from least to greatest even though the order of the ratios are put in the
same spot as the ratios for the volume. Moreover, I also saw that if you divide the second number
in the ratios for both the volume and the surface area by one, the answer for the volume is for
least to greatest; 1, 2, 7. The answer for the surface area is 14, 0.3, and 0.25. The volume is 1:1,
1:2, 1:7 and the surface area is 1:14, 1:0.3, 1:0.25. Another thing that I noticed is that if you
minus the second number in the ratio for the volume for the second number for the surface area,
then you get the following answers: 0.57, -2.4, and -3.77. Some of the numbers are in negatives
because they are being subtracted from larger numbers than themselves. Lastly, the first number
in the ratios is all one because it is a unit rate and unit rates always have to start with one.