Question

A Snap Cube PrismA rectangular prism is 3 units high, 2 units wide, and 5 units long. What is its surfacearea in square units? Explain or show your reasoning (work).

Answer 1

62 u² (square units)

1) A rectangular prism is made up of 6 rectangles. So we can write them out:

2 rectangles (3 x 2)

2 rectangles ( 5 x 2)

2 rectangles ( 5 x 3)

2) Therefore the Total Surface Area of that prism can be found by applying the formula for the area of each rectangle times 2. Like this:

$\begin{gathered} \text{TSA}=\text{ 2(3}\times2\text{ +5}\times2+5\times3) \\ \text{TSA}=\text{ 2(6 +10+15)} \\ \text{TSA}=\text{ 2(31)} \\ \text{TSA}=62 \end{gathered}$

3) Hence the answer is 62 u² (square units)