(Old) Canalysis

What’s the ideal size of a soda can?

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(Old) Canalysis

What’s the ideal size of a soda can?

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A newer, better version of this lesson is available! Explore all updated lessons here, or read more about the updates in Our Community.

2023-2024 Versions

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What’s the ideal size of a soda can? Soda companies spend billions of dollars each year to manufacture 12-ounce cans. If the companies changed the cans’ dimensions, though, they would save lots of money.

In this lesson, students create rational functions to explore the relationship between volume, surface area, and cost to determine the optimal size of a soda can.

REAL WORLD TAKEAWAYS

  • The cheapest version of a product won’t necessarily be the most profitable.
  • Small tweaks in per unit expenses can result in huge savings of costs in mass manufacturing.

MATH OBJECTIVES

  • Write, graph, and solve rational equations to describe geometric relationships

Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.
Algebra 2
Rational Functions
Algebra 2
Rational Functions
Content Standards
Mathematical Practices

Other Algebra 2 Lessons