How to find the surface area of a rectangular prism

General
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how to find the surface area of a rectangular prism

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How to find the surface area of a rectangular prism

Answer:
To find the surface area of a rectangular prism, you need to follow a specific formula. The surface area of any three-dimensional shape represents the total area of all the faces. For a rectangular prism, which has six faces (four lateral faces and two bases), the formula to calculate the surface area is as follows:

  1. Calculation of the lateral area:

    • The lateral area of a rectangular prism can be calculated by multiplying the perimeter of the base by the height of the prism. The formula for the lateral area (LA) is: LA = perimeter of base x height.

  2. Calculation of the base areas:

    • Since a rectangular prism has two bases, the formula to calculate the base area is the area of a rectangle: Base Area = length x width.

  3. Total surface area formula:

    • Once you have calculated the lateral area and the area of the two bases, the total surface area (SA) of a rectangular prism is given by the formula: SA = 2(base area) + lateral area.

By adding the lateral area to twice the base area, you will get the total surface area of the rectangular prism. This formula applies to rectangular prisms of any size, providing a straightforward method to calculate their surface area accurately.