Expert: Josh - 12/11/2009

Question
Hi
if 1000 cubic cm is worth 0.22c, how much would it cost for 510 square cm

That was a math problem at school and I don't get how to convert

Thank you for your help

Answer
Hi Helen,

It seems to me that the given units are incompatible. Cubic centimeter (cm^3) is a measure of volume; it is 3-Dimensional. The cost here (0.22 cent per 1000 cm^3) is given with respect to volume. On the other hand, square centimeter (cm^2) measures an area; it is 2-Dimensional. It does not make much sense asking the price per occupied area, when the cost is quoted in cent/cm^3 (per unit volume).

If the container can be described as a "cylinder", then we can calculate the cost of the material if we know the height of the container (let's call this H). i.e., if we assume the cross section area remains constant at 510 cm^2, the total volume will be V=510*H cm^3. The cost of the material will be P=(V/1000)*0.22.

For example, if the height H=20 cm, then total volume V=510*20=10200 cm^3. The cost would be P=(10200/1000)*0.22 which evaluates to $2.24.