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mosquitojoyride
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A fishpole is to be encased in a rectangular box with a square base. 21 Sep 2009, 16:43
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85% (hard)

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37% (01:58) correct 63% (01:45) wrong based on 60 sessions

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A fishpole is to be encased in a rectangular box with a square base. The box is shorter than the pole. What are the minimum dimensions of the box?

(1) The area of the base of the box is 5.5 square feet.
(2) The pole is 6 ft and the box is 5 feet.

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Book's explanation: Basically the book says that the diagonal of a rectangular solid is sqrt(L^2+w^2+h^&2). This is also the length of the pole. This is where everything gets confusing for me. Because the box has a square base, w=h (does h = height?).
Books says that statement 1 states that w=h=2.3 (area = w*h). Why is it 2.3?!?!?! Even though the number makes no sense to me I still understand that 1) alone is not sufficient.

I understand 2) and I can see why the answer is B. I just want to know how the book got 2.3.

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yangsta8
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A fishpole is to be encased in a rectangular box with a square base. 21 Sep 2009, 23:59
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I think that 2.3 is an approximation of the length of one of the sides at the base.
2.3 x 2.3 is a little bit less than 5.5.

The way the explanation is confusing. The base to me is W x L as the words “square base” implies this. And H would be represent the vertical height of the box. Nevertheless you got the answer so all is good :)
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mosquitojoyride
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A fishpole is to be encased in a rectangular box with a square base. 22 Sep 2009, 06:22
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What?! Do test prep books normally approximate numbers?! 2.3 is NOT acceptable for me!
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yangsta8
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A fishpole is to be encased in a rectangular box with a square base. 22 Sep 2009, 06:32
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well in my limited experience (only been using Kaplan and OG) approximation is a valid technique the books use. Although in the OAs they will normally say when they use approximation.

I think approximation is used much more widely in DS than in PS because you don't need to generally SOLVE a solution but only know whether its sufficient or not.
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A fishpole is to be encased in a rectangular box with a square base. 22 Sep 2009, 06:40
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Ah. Thanks for your help. I just lost my head doing the problem. GMAT frustrations....
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myellen
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A fishpole is to be encased in a rectangular box with a square base. 26 Sep 2009, 20:07
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mosquitojoyride
Questions: A fishpole is to be encased in a rectangular box with a square base. The box is shorter than the pole. What are the minimum dimensions of the box?
1) The area of the base of the box is 5.5 square feet.
2) The pole is 6 ft and the box is 5 feet.

Book's explanation: Basically the book says that the diagonal of a rectangular solid is sqrt(L^2+w^2+h^&2). This is also the length of the pole. This is where everything gets confusing for me. Because the box has a square base, w=h (does h = height?).
Books says that statement 1 states that w=h=2.3 (area = w*h). Why is it 2.3?!?!?! Even though the number makes no sense to me I still understand that 1) alone is not sufficient.

I understand 2) and I can see why the answer is B. I just want to know how the book got 2.3.
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do you mind to share why it is B? (B means St(2) sufficient by itself right?) just because I got C, which need both statements to get it.
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A fishpole is to be encased in a rectangular box with a square base. 05 Jan 2010, 13:46
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myellen

do you mind to share why it is B? (B means St(2) sufficient by itself right?) just because I got C, which need both statements to get it.
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B is the correct answer.

Exp:
Stem of the ques: Base is square and height is less than pole.

ST1. Clearly Not Sufficient as no height of pole or box is given

ST2: height of box as 5 and pole as 6
let square base side be 'a'
for minimum dimension:
\(\sqrt{a^2 + a^2 + 5^2} = \sqrt{6^2}\)
\(a^2 + a^2 + 25 = 36\)
\(2a^2 + 25 = 36\)
which gives \(a=\sqrt{\frac{11}{2}}\)

Therefore you know the dimensions.....

Hope it's clear

Cheers!
JT

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