PROBLEMS RELATED TO PACKAGING TWO METHODS OF SOLVING

PROBLEMS RELATED TO PACKAGING

TWO METHODS OF SOLVING PACKAGING PROBLEMS First method identifies packaging patterns for a few tins and extending the pattern for a whole box. Second method uses a mathematical approach and calculations.

WHAT ARE PACKAGING PROBLEMS? Packaging problems are problems or situations that involve having to package or fit a certain quantity of an item into a particular space. Examples: Packaging food cans into a box for transportation to the market place Packaging cool drink cans inside a refrigerator at a shop Packaging crates into a storage room at a factory Planting plants to fit in a small patch of earth set aside for a vegetable garden

‘PATTERNS APPROACH’ If Sabelo were to stack cans in a box straight up ( vertically ), he could use the following method to determine how many tins might fit in the box: 5 tins along the shortest side(width) of the box 6 tins along the longest side (length) of the box The tins can stand 3 tins tall in the box In other words: There will be 6 rows of tins containing 5 tins each on the bottom layer of the box. This gives us 30 tins on the bottom layer of the box.

‘MATHEMATICAL APPROACH’ Sabelo could also solve his packaging problem using a mathematical calculation. This approach is effective when working with larger packaging problems. ( for example – determining the best way to package boxes into a shed) To use this method we need to know: The dimensions of the box The dimensions of the can that will be packaged. Now we can calculate the number of tins that will fit into the box using the vertical arrangement with the following calculations: