Compare the area of the bases. If a base has a greater area, it will take up more space on the shelf.Base area of Box 1: 3x2Base area of Box 2: 4x2 – x Which box is likely to occupy more space on the shelf? Explain. Try substituting different values for x.

Answer:

To determine which box occupies more space, compare 3x^2 and 4x^2 - x. If x = 1, both areas are 3. However, for any value of x greater than 1, Box 2 will have a larger base area. For example, if x = 2, Box 1 is 12 and Box 2 is 14. Therefore, Box 2 is likely to occupy more space on the shelf.