A bale of hay in the shape of a rectangular prism has a length of 4 feet, a width of 2 feet, and a height of 2 feet. A cylindrical bale of hay has a diameter of 5 feet and a height of 6 feet. How many rectangular bales contain the same amount of hay as one cylindrical bale?

Find the two volumes separately:

Bale:  V = 4(2)(2) ft^3 = 16 ft^3
Cylinder:  V = pi*(2.5 ft)^2* (6 ft) = 117.8 ft^3

Divide 117.8 ft^3 by 16 ft^3:

117.8 ft^3
------------- = 7.36
 16 ft^3

Thus, the cyl. bale could theoretically hold the total volume of 7.36 rect. bales.  That could be rounded off either way:  to 7 or to 8 bales; 7 is closer and thus is the better answer.