If you are provided with a cube of modeling clay, which of the following changes to the shape of this cube will decrease its surface area relative to its volume?
A) Cut the cube into eight smaller cubes.
B) Flatten the cube into a pancake shape.
C) Round the clay up into a sphere.
D) Stretch the cube into a long, shoebox shape.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rounding the clay up into a sphere minimizes the surface area for a given volume, which is why soap bubbles and planets are spherical. This principle is demonstrated by the isoperimetric inequality in mathematics, which states that of all shapes with a given volume, the sphere has the smallest surface area.

If You Are Provided with a Cube of Modeling Clay