We were given a roll of clear packing tape and a dark blue roll of plastic table cloth that measured 40 inches by 100 feet. We started off by thinking of possible ideas together for our giant inflatable. We conceptualized a few other possible designs before generally deciding on the triangular prism.
We found that keeping the prism's width 40 inches would be much less difficult, because the sheeting is already 40 inches in width. After debating how large the size of triangular prism should be, we decided the length should be 250 inches.
Our flat pattern consists of 5 different shapes: 3 rectangles and 2 triangles. To calculate the surface area, we determined the area of each of the five shapes and added them together. The area of each rectangle and triangle is found by doing length times width. Our total surface area was 32,771.3 inches squared. The surface area is equal to the amount of sheeting used.
To determine the volume, we multiplied length by width by height. The volume of the triangular prism is 173,205.0808 inches cubed. The volume is the amount of air that is in the prism when entirely inflated.
To figure how much tape we would have to use we had to decide where we would be taping each shape together. We planned on using one layer of tape for each triangle and along the three edges of the rectangles. Summing the perimeter of the triangles with the 3 lengths of the prism, we got an approximate use of tape that measured 910 inches.
We have already cut out a piece of remaining sheeting to be used as the flap to attach the inflatable to the fan. We feel pretty confident about the tape holding the seams together, if needed we have enough remaining materials to fix any problems that could arise.
We found that keeping the prism's width 40 inches would be much less difficult, because the sheeting is already 40 inches in width. After debating how large the size of triangular prism should be, we decided the length should be 250 inches.
Our flat pattern consists of 5 different shapes: 3 rectangles and 2 triangles. To calculate the surface area, we determined the area of each of the five shapes and added them together. The area of each rectangle and triangle is found by doing length times width. Our total surface area was 32,771.3 inches squared. The surface area is equal to the amount of sheeting used.
To determine the volume, we multiplied length by width by height. The volume of the triangular prism is 173,205.0808 inches cubed. The volume is the amount of air that is in the prism when entirely inflated.
To figure how much tape we would have to use we had to decide where we would be taping each shape together. We planned on using one layer of tape for each triangle and along the three edges of the rectangles. Summing the perimeter of the triangles with the 3 lengths of the prism, we got an approximate use of tape that measured 910 inches.
We have already cut out a piece of remaining sheeting to be used as the flap to attach the inflatable to the fan. We feel pretty confident about the tape holding the seams together, if needed we have enough remaining materials to fix any problems that could arise.