Question:
Three cubes of metal with edges 3 cm, 4 cm and 5 cm respectively are melted to form a single cube. The lateral surface area of the new cube formed is
(a) 72 cm2
(b) 144 cm2
(c) 128 cm2
(d) 256 cm2
Solution:
(b) $144 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$
Volume of the new cube formed = total volume of the three cubes
Suppose that a cm is the edge of the new cube, then
$a^{3}=3^{3}+4^{3}+5^{3}$
$=27+64+125$
$=216$
$=6 \mathrm{~cm}$
$\therefore$ Lateral surface area of the new cube $=4 a^{2}=4 \times 6 \times 6=144 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$