PSLE Oscar wanted to build a set of steps with 5-cm cubes. The figures show how he built the steps from a height of 10 cm to 15 cm to 20 cm. If Oscar continued building the steps in this way, what would be the height of the set of steps that had 312 cubes? Express your answer in cm.
Cubes needed for 10-cm steps = 4 x 3 = 4 x (1 + 2) = 12 cubes
Cubes needed for 15-cm steps = 4 x 6 = 4 x (1 + 2 + 3) = 24 cubes
Cubes needed for 20-cm steps = 4 x 10 = 4 x (1 + 2 + 3 + 4) = 40 cubes
Formula:
Number of cubes needed for the set of steps
= 4 x (1 + 2 + 3 + ... + Height)
= 4 x
(Height) x (Height + 1)2
4 x (Height) x (Height + 1)2 = 312
Height x (Height + 1)2 = 312 ÷ 4
Height x (Height + 1)2 = 78
Height x (Height + 1) = 78 x 2
Height x (Height + 1) = 156
12 x 13 = 156
Number of cubes needed for the height of the set of steps that had 312 cubes = 12
Height of the set of steps that had 312 cubes
= 12 x 5
= 60 cm
Answer(s): 60 cm