Surface Area: Introductory Exercises
Take a few minutes to interact with the rectangular prism shown here. After doing so, create one that has a length = 4 units, width = 5 units, and height = 3 units.
How many square units (i.e. "squares") appear on 1 pink face? How many square units (i.e. "squares") appear on 1 gold face? How many square units (i.e. "squares") appear on 1 white face?
Use your answers for (1) to determine the TOTAL SURFACE AREA of this rectangular prism. That is, how many square units, or squares, cover the ENTIRE SURFACE of this rectangular prism?
Now create a rectangular prism that has a length = 8 units, width = 3 units, and height = 5 units.
How many square units (i.e. "squares") appear on 1 pink face? How many square units (i.e. "squares") appear on 1 gold face? How many square units (i.e. "squares") appear on 1 white face?
Use your answers for (3) to determine the TOTAL SURFACE AREA of this rectangular prism. That is, how many square units, or squares, cover the ENTIRE SURFACE of this rectangular prism?
Overall, how we can determine the total surface area (number of squares) that cover the entire surface of a rectangular prism? Describe.