Question

A company needs to package 2,400 pencils. A box in the shape of a rectangular prism can hold 60 pencils. A cylindrical container can hold 80 pencils. Each box costs the company $0.50, while each cylindrical container costs $0.75.
Which packaging should the company use to minimize cost? Explain.

Answer 1

If the company used rectangular prisms it would take 40 boxes (2400/60) to hold 2,400 pencils which would cost $20 (40 times 0.50). If they used cylindrical containers, they would need 30 containers (2400/80) for a total of $22.50 (30*0.75).

To minimize the cost the company should go with rectangular prisms as they are the most cost effective.