Question two-id
Two identical rectangular prisms each have a height of . The base of each prism is a square, and the surface area of each prism is . If the prisms are glued together along a square base, the resulting prism has a surface area of . What is the side length, in , of each square base?
Two identical rectangular prisms each have a height of 90   centimeters   cm . The
Hard-difficulty · SAT Math · Area and Volume — Surface area. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.
Answer explanation
Choice B is correct. Let represent the side length, in , of each square base. If the two prisms are glued together along a square base, the resulting prism has a surface area equal to twice the surface area of one of the prisms, minus the area of the two square bases that are being glued together, which yields . It’s given that this resulting surface area is equal to , so . Subtracting from both sides of this equation yields . This equation can be rewritten by multiplying on the left-hand side by , which yields , or . Adding to both sides of this equation yields . Multiplying both sides of this equation by yields . The surface area , in , of each rectangular prism is equivalent to the sum of the areas of the two square bases and the areas of the four lateral faces. Since the height of each rectangular prism is and the side length of each square base is , it follows that the area of each square base is and the area of each lateral face is . Therefore, the surface area of each rectangular prism can be represented by the expression , or . Substituting this expression for in the equation yields . Subtracting and from both sides of this equation yields . Factoring from the right-hand side of this equation yields . Applying the zero product property, it follows that and . Adding to both sides of the equation yields . Dividing both sides of this equation by yields . Since a side length of a rectangular prism can’t be , the length of each square base is .
Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
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