Math Science and Technology Through Design

Packaging Unit

Packaging Unit

Believe it or not, there are actually people that are employed to configure product packages in the most efficient and cost effective manner. These people are called packaging engineers.  Saving packaging materials saves money and in the long run, natural resources.

Your assignment is to create a package that will hold 4 scaled down ice cream bars.  In turn, the packages of 4 bars should fit efficiently into another container for shipping.  In simplest terms, you must fit as many 4 bar packages into the larger package as possible.  The best design and the cheapest design will get extra points.  UNITS ARE IN MILLIMETERS.

Step 1 – Plan out and calculate volume, surface area and cost

1.       In the space provided below, sketch out as many different ways as possible   to stack or lay out the 4 ice cream bars.

2.      In the space provided below make a flattened out sketch of a container for each configuration that you came up with in step one.  Remember that you need tabs on some of the sides to construct the boxes.

3.      Calculate the surface area of each of your designs using the formula L x W.  Note: You will need to break your design(s) into more than one rectangle, calculate each one then total them up.

                                                                             Example

a.       Design 1 = ____________ sq. mm

b.      Design 2 = ____________ sq. mm

c.      Design 3 = ____________ sq. mm

d.      Design 4 = ____________ sq. mm

e.      Design 5 = ____________ sq. mm

4.      Calculate the volume of each of your designs using the formula: L x W x H

a.      Design 1 = _____________ mm³

b.   Design 2 = _____________ mm³

c.      Design 3 = _____________ mm³

d.      Design 4 =  _____________ mm³

e.      Design 5 =  _____________ mm³

5.      Calculate the volume of the dry eraser box.   The length is _______, the width is __________ and the height is ______________.

6.      Based on your calculations in step 4, how many of each design should fit into the dry eraser box?

a.      Using design 1, _____________ packages should fit into the large box.

b.      Using design 2, _____________ packages should fit into the large box.

c.      Using design 3, ____________ packages should fit into the large box.

d.      Using Design 4, ____________ packages should fit into the large box.

e.      Using design 5, ____________ packages should fit into the large box.