Mathematics 10Z

Geometry of Packaging Project

NAME: ________________________________

DUE: May 6, 2010

You have been hired by a company that makes disposable drinking cups. The company typically ships cups in
boxes of 100 cups. They need to determine a method of packaging cups that will be as inexpensive as possible.
CRITICAL QUESTION
What is the least expensive package that will hold 100 cups?
In solving this problem, you should make the following assumptions:
If cups are split into several stacks, each stack must contain the same number of cups.
The cost of the cardboard packing material is $0.0001 per square centimetre.
Assume the packaging does not overlap
The diameter of the opening of each cup is 9.2 cm.
INVESTIGATION STEPS

Cups have been stacked one at a time and the total height of the cup stack for each number of cups added to the
first has been presented in the table below.
Cups Added to the First
0
1
2
3
4
5

Height in centimeters
11.0
11.5
12.0
12.5
13.0
13.5

Determine the equation of the line describing the height of the cups (h) with respect to cups added to
the first (c).

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Make a graph of the data represented in the table.

Predict how tall a stack of 100 cups would be?

You have been asked to determine a method of packaging cups that will be as inexpensive as possible, while
using resources as efficiently as possible. Three different configurations of 100 cups will be described to you.
Note: when splitting the cups into several different stacks, each stack must contain the same number of
cups.
Assume that your cups will be shipped in cardboard containers. For each of the configurations determine a) the
amount of cardboard needed to contain the cups, b) the total cost of the cardboard, c) the total volume of the

Mathematics 10Z
container and d) the economy rating for the container. Show your work in the space provided. Place your final
calculations in the table that has been provided.
CONFIGURATION 1:
The cups have been split into stacks of 5. Twenty of these stacks contain 100 cups. An arrangement of 4 rows
and 5 columns of these stacks is shown below. The diagram on the right below shows the top view of 20
individual stacks. The number on each stack shows the number of cups in the stack.

Determine the dimensions of the box.

Determine the surface area of this cardboard box. Please draw a net to illustrate your work.

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Determine the cost of the cardboard.

Determine the volume of the cardboard container.

Calculate the economy rating for this container.

CONFIGURATION 2:
The cups have been divided into 5 stacks of 20. Below is a top view of one such arrangement. The cups
will be placed into a large tube that holds 5 stacks of cups.

Determine the height of the cylinder. The radius of this cylinder is

approximately 12.3 cm.

Determine the surface area of this cardboard tube.

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Determine the cost of the cardboard.

Determine the volume of the cardboard tube.

Calculate the economy rating for the cardboard tube.

CONFIGURATION 3:
The cups have been divided into 5 stacks of 20. Below is a top view of one
such arrangement. The cups will be placed into a large pentagonal prism that
holds 5 stacks of cups.

Determine the dimensions of the pentagonal prism. The side length is

approximately 16.0 cm.

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Determine the surface area of this pentagonal prism.

Determine the cost of the cardboard.

Determine the volume of the cardboard pentagonal prism.

Calculate the economy rating of this container.

Design two alternate configurations that could be used to ship the cups, one of which would have a
better economy rating than any of the other configurations previously presented.
CONFIGURATION 4:

Describe and illustrate another configuration that could be used to ship the cups.

Determine the dimensions of your new container.

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Determine the surface area of this container.

Determine the cost of the cardboard.

Determine the volume of the container.

Calculate the economy rating.

CONFIGURATION 5:

Design and illustrate a different configuration than previously presented that could be used to ship
the cups.

Determine the dimensions of your new container.

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Determine the surface area of this container.

Determine the cost of the cardboard.

Determine the volume of the container.

Calculate the economy rating.

Cup Configuration

Amount of
Cardboard
Required (square
cm)

Total Cost ($)

Volume of
Container
(cubic cm)

Economy Rating

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Based on your cost and volume calculations, recommend a container that will be the least expensive and use
resources as efficiently as possible. What other factors should be considered when selecting a package
design? Discuss.

Mathematics 10Z

Construct a prototype of your recommended container to submit with your project. Design a visually
appealing packaging label (company name, graphics, logo etc.) to assist in marketing the product.

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