76

Surface Area

The surface area of a solid is the sum of

area of the exterior surfaces. Like area,
surface area is expressed in square units.

6 cm

7 cm

An unfolded 3-dimensional figure is a net.

This is a net of the
rectangular prism
6 cm
shown above.
The sum of areas
5 cm
top
left
of each section of
7 cm
6 cm
the net is equal to the
surface area of the figure.

5 cm

7 cm
rear
base

right

5 cm

6 cm

front
7 cm

Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism

To find the surface area of a rectangular prism, find the sum of
the areas of the six faces, or rectangles. Remember: Opposite faces
are equal. For a review of polyhedrons and prisms, see page 331.

EXAMPLE Finding the Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism

Use the net to find the area of the rectangular prism above.
Use the formula A = w to find the area of each face.
Add the six areas.
Express the answer in square units.
Area = top + base
= 2 (7 5)
=
2 35
=
70
=
214 cm2

+ left + right
+ 2 (6 5)
+
2 30
+
60

+ front + rear
+ 2 (7 6)
+
2 42
+
84

So, the surface area of the rectangular prism is 214 square

centimeters.
Surface Area 349

Check It Out
Find the surface area of each shape.
1
2

2 cm

5m
3m

6 cm

4 cm

6m

Surface Areas of Other Solids

Nets can be used to find the surface area of any polyhedron.
Look at the triangular prism and its net.
6 in.
6 in.

10 in.
7 in.

SURFACE AREA

6 in.

8 in.

top

8 in.

7 in. side

8 in.
side

7 in.

10 in.
6 in.

8 in.

To find the surface area of this solid, use the area formulas for a
1
bh). Find the areas of
rectangle (A = w) and a triangle (A = _
2
the five faces and then find the sum of the areas.
Below are two pyramids and their nets. To find the surface area
of these polyhedrons, you would again use the area formulas for
1
a rectangle (A = w) and a triangle (A = _
bh).

76

Rectangular pyramid

350 HotTopics

Tetrahedron (triangular pyramid)

The surface area of a cylinder is the sum of the areas of two

circles and a rectangle. The height of the rectangle is equal to the
height of the cylinder. The length of the rectangle is equal to the
circumference (p. 360) of the cylinder.
d
d
h

C
d

Find the surface area of a cylinder:

Use the formula for the area of a circle, A = r 2, to find the
area of each base.
Find the area of the rectangle using the formula h (2r).
Add the area of the circles and the area of the rectangle.
You can use the formula S = 2r 2 + 2rh.

Check It Out
Consider the net of each figure.
3 Find the surface area of the
triangular prism.

8 cm
15 cm

11 cm

4 Which unfolded figure represents the pyramid?

A
B

10 cm

5 Find the surface area of the cylinder.

Use 3.14.
16 cm

Surface Area 351

76

Exercises

Find the surface area of each shape. Round decimal answers to

the nearest tenth.
1.
2.
3 cm

3.

3 cm

1m

4.

6m

3m

3m

4m
2

4m

4m

3m

SURFACE AREA

2m

4m

3m

76

2m

3 cm

A = 20.5 m

Find the surface area of each cylinder. Round to the nearest

tenth.
10 cm
5.
6.
5.5 cm
h = 10 cm
8.8 cm

7. Rita and Derrick are building a 3 foot by 3 foot by 6 foot

platform to use for skateboarding. They plan to waterproof
all six sides of the platform, using sealant that covers about
50 square feet per quart. How many quarts of sealant will
they need?

352 HotTopics