How does the shape of a golf ball affect the area of it’s box?

QUESTION:
If 12 spherical golf balls are in a rectangular box, and their diameter is 42.67mm with their volume being 40.7cm, what would be the smallest the area of the box could be?

ANSWER:

Answer by David A
You should maybe repost this as a math question. they could be laid out in 1 row of 12, 2 rows of 6, or 3 rows of 4. The volume of the golf ball is a red herring, since you know the diameter already and since golf balls are perfect spheres.
the 2 layout option are (42.67×1) x (42.67×12)=21848.75 sq mm
(42.67 x 2) x (42.67 x 6) =21848.75 sq mm or (42.67 x 3) x (42.67 x 4)=21848.75 sq mm
you asked for the area of the box, so the answer is 21848.75 sq mm. If you want the volume, just multiply this answer by another 42.67.