GRE Math : How to find the diagonal of a cube

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1511 :Gre Quantitative Reasoning

The surface area of a cube is 486 units. What is the distance of its diagonal (e.g. from its front-left-bottom corner to its rear-right-top corner)?

Possible Answers:

None of the others

9√(3)

9√(2)

81

9

Correct answer:

9√(3)

Explanation:

First, we must ascertain the length of each side. Based on our initial data, we know that the 6 faces of the cube will have a surface area of 6x2. This yields the equation:

6x2= 486, which simplifies to: x2= 81; x = 9.

Therefore, each side has a length of 9. Imagine the cube is centered on the origin. This means its "front-left-bottom corner" will be at (–4.5, –4.5, 4.5) and its "rear-right-top corner" will be at (4.5, 4.5, –4.5). To find the distance between these, we use the three-dimensional distance formula:

d = √((x1– x2)2+ (y1– y2)2+ (z1– z2)2)

For our data, this will be:

√( (–4.5 – 4.5)2+ (–4.5 – 4.5)2+ (4.5 + 4.5)2) =

√( (–9)2+ (–9)2+ (9)2) = √(81 + 81 + 81) = √(243) =

√(3 * 81) = √(3) * √(81) = 9√(3)

Example Question #2 :Cubes

You have a rectangular box with dimensions 6 inches by 6 inches by 8 inches. What is the length of the shortest distance between two non-adjacent corners of the box?

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 8

\dpi{100} \small 8\sqrt{2}

\dpi{100} \small 6

\dpi{100} \small 4\sqrt{3}

\dpi{100} \small 6\sqrt{2}

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small 6\sqrt{2}

Explanation:

The shortest length between any two non-adjacent corners will be the diagonal of the smallest face of the rectangular box. The smallest face of the rectangular box is a six-inch by six-inch square. The diagonal of a six-inch square is\dpi{100} \small 6\sqrt{2}.

Example Question #3 :How To Find The Diagonal Of A Cube

What is the length of the diagonal of a cube with side lengths ofeach?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The diagonal length of a cube is found by a form of the distance formula that is akin to the Pythagorean Theorem, though with an additional dimension added to it. It is:

, or, or

Now, if the the value ofis,我们得到simply

Example Question #4 :How To Find The Diagonal Of A Cube

What is the length of the diagonal of a cube that has a surface area of?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

首先,最好的办法是找到一愣th of a side of the cube. This is done using the formula for the surface area of a cube. Recall that a cube is made up ofsquares. Therefore, its surface area is:

, whereis the length of a side.

Therefore, for our data, we have:

Solving for,我们得到:

This means that

Now, the diagonal length of a cube is found by a form of the distance formula that is akin to the Pythagorean Theorem, though with an additional dimension added to it. It is:

, or, or

Now, if the the value ofis,我们得到simply

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