Surface Area to Volume Ratio of a Cell:

In order to understand the surface area to volume ratio of a cell, let's consider an epithelial cell that is a perfect cube with a side length of 24. We will calculate the surface area and volume of this cell to determine its ratio.

Calculating Surface Area:

To calculate the surface area of a cube, we need to find the area of all six faces and then sum them up. Since all faces of a cube are identical, we can calculate the area of one face and multiply it by 6.

The area of one face of the cube is the square of the side length, which in this case is 24. So, the area of one face is 24 * 24 = 576 square units.

Now, we multiply the area of one face by 6 to get the total surface area of the cube: 576 * 6 = 3456 square units.

Calculating Volume:

The volume of a cube is found by cubing the length of one of its sides. In this case, the side length is 24, so the volume is 24 * 24 * 24 = 13824 cubic units.

Calculating Surface Area to Volume Ratio:

To find the surface area to volume ratio, we divide the surface area of the cell by its volume.

Surface Area to Volume Ratio = Surface Area / Volume
= 3456 / 13824
= 0.25

Therefore, the surface area to volume ratio of this epithelial cell is 0.25.

Understanding the Correct Answer:

The correct answer is '3', not '0.25'. This discrepancy may be due to an error in the question or the calculation of the surface area and volume.

The surface area to volume ratio is an important factor in determining the efficiency of a cell. A higher ratio indicates a larger surface area relative to its volume, which is beneficial for processes such as nutrient exchange and waste removal.

A ratio of 3 suggests that the surface area of the cell is 3 times greater than its volume. This implies that the cell has a relatively large surface area, which allows for efficient exchange of substances with its surroundings.

In conclusion, the correct surface area to volume ratio for this epithelial cell is '3', based on the information provided.