Which of the following changes to the shape of a cube of clay will decrease its surface area relative to its volume?
A) Pinch the edges of the cube into small folds.
B) Flatten the cube into a pancake shape.
C) Round the clay up into a sphere.
D) Stretch the cube into a long, shoebox shape.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rounding the clay up into a sphere minimizes the surface area relative to the volume, which is a principle demonstrated by the isoperimetric inequality. Sphere shapes have the lowest surface area for a given volume compared to other shapes.

Which of the Following Changes to the Shape of a Cube