English Spanish

6.2 Surface Areas of Prisms

How can you use a net to find the surface

SSTATE area of a prism?
STANDARDS Base
MA.7.G.2.1 Base

Lateral Face
Lateral Face

Rectangular Prism Triangular Prism

The surface area of a prism is the sum of the areas of all its faces.
A two-dimensional representation of a solid is called a net .

1 ACTIVITY: Surface Area of a Right Rectangular Prism

Work with a partner.
a. Use the net for the rectangular prism to find its surface area.

Base Net

Lateral Lateral Lateral Lateral

Face Face Face Face
6

5 Base
3

b. Copy the net for a rectangular prism. Label each side as h, w, or .

Then use your drawing to write a formula for the surface area of a
rectangular prism.

256 Chapter 6 Surface Areas of Solids

English Spanish

2 ACTIVITY: Finding Surface Area

Work with a partner. Find the surface area of the solid shown by the net.
Copy the net, cut it out, and fold it to form a solid. Identify the solid.

4
3

3 4
5

3 4

3. IN YOUR OWN WORDS How can you use a net to find the surface
area of a prism? Draw a net, cut it out, and fold it to form a prism.
4. The greater the surface area of an ice block, the faster it will melt.
Which will melt faster, the bigger block or the three smaller blocks?
Explain your reasoning.

3 ft

1 ft 1 ft

1 ft

1 ft

1 ft

Use what you learned about the surface area of a prism to complete
Exercises 6 8 on page 260.

Section 6.2 Surface Areas of Prisms 257

 English Spanish

6.2 Lesson
Lesson Tutorials

Key Vocabulary
surface area, p. 256
net, p. 256 Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism
Words The surface area S of a rectangular prism is the sum of the
areas of the bases and the lateral faces.

base w
w w

h lateral lateral lateral lateral

h
face face face face
w
base

Algebra S = 2w + 2h + 2wh

Area of Area of
bases lateral faces

EXAMPLE 1 Finding the Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism

Find the surface area of the prism. 3 in.

Draw a net. 5 in.

5 in. 5 in. 3 in.
S = 2w + 2h + 2wh
6 in.
= 2(3)(5) + 2(3)(6) + 2(5)(6) 6 in.

5 in. = 30 + 36 + 60
3 in. = 126

The surface area is 126 square inches.

Find the surface area of the prism.

Exercises 911 1. 2.

4 ft
5m
8m
3 ft 8m
2 ft

258 Chapter 6 Surface Areas of Solids

MSFL7PE_0602.indd 258 10/20/09 3:31:35 PM

English Spanish

Surface Area of a Prism

The surface area S of a prism is the sum of the areas of the bases and
the lateral faces.

S = areas of bases + areas of lateral faces

EXAMPLE 2 Finding the Surface Area of a Triangular Prism

5m Find the surface area of the prism.
Draw a net. 4m
3m
6m 3m 4m
5m

6m
4m
3m

Remember Area of a base Areas of lateral faces

The area A of a triangle 1

Red base: 3 4 = 6
Green lateral face: 3 6 = 18
Purple lateral face: 5 6 = 30
with base b and height 2
1
h is A = bh.
2 Blue lateral face: 4 6 = 24

Add the areas of the bases and the lateral faces.

S = areas of bases + areas of lateral faces
= 6 + 6 + 18 + 30 + 24

There are two identical

= 84 bases. Count the area twice.

The surface area is 84 square meters.

Find the surface area of the prism.

Exercises 1214 3. 5 m 12 m 4.
4 cm
3m
5 cm
13 m
4 cm
3 cm

Section 6.2 Surface Areas of Prisms 259

 English Spanish

6.2 Exercises
Help with Homework

1. OPEN-ENDED Describe a real-world situation in which you would want

to find the surface area of a prism.

Find the indicated area for the rectangular prism. Face B

Face C
2. Area of Face A
4 cm Face A
3. Area of Face B
4. Area of Face C 3 cm
6 cm
5. Surface area of the prism

6)=3
9+(- 3)=
3+(- 9)=
4+(- =
1)
9+(-

Draw a net for the prism. Then find the surface area.
6. 7. 8.
3 in.
4 cm 7m

4 in. 5 cm
5 in. 6m
5 cm 3m
3 cm
Find the surface area of the prism.
1 9. 10. 11. 5 yd
1 ft 3 cm

5 ft 4 yd
10 ft 9 cm 2 yd
6 cm

2 12. 2.2 ft
13. 14. 5.7 mm
5m
3 mm
2 ft 5m
3 ft 4m 7m 4 mm 4 mm
1 ft 6m

15. GIFT BOX What is the least amount of wrapping paper

needed to wrap a gift box that measures 8 inches by
8 inches by 10 inches? Explain.
5 ft

5 ft
16. TENT What is the least amount of fabric needed
to make the tent?
7 ft 4 ft
6 ft

260 Chapter 6 Surface Areas of Solids

English Spanish

Find the surface area of the prism.

17. 12 in. 4 in. 18.
3 in. 2.5 m
2m
5 in. 5 in.
6 in. 4m
4m

19. AQUARIUM A public library has an aquarium in the

shape of a rectangular prism. The base is 6 feet by
2.5 feet. The height is 4 feet. How many square feet
of glass were used to build the aquarium? (The top
of the aquarium is open.)

20. STORAGE BOX The material used to make a Length Width Height
storage box costs $1.25 per square foot. The Box 1 20 in. 6 in. 4 in.
boxes have the same volume. How much Box 2 15 in. 4 in. 8 in.
does a company save by choosing to make
50 of Box 2 instead of 50 of Box 1?

1
25
12
ft 21. RAMP A quart of stain covers
100 square feet. How many quarts
should you buy to stain the wheelchair
5 ft ramp? (Assume you do not have to
25 in. stain the bottom of the ramp.)
25 ft

3 in.
22. LABEL A label that wraps around a box of golf balls covers
75% of its lateral surface area. What is the value of x?
2 in.

23. Write a formula for the surface area

of a rectangular prism using the height h, the 2 in.
perimeter P of a base, and the area B of a base. x

Find the perimeter. SKILLS REVIEW HANDBOOK

24. 8
25. 12 26. 11 11
7

12 12 9 9
10 14
12

27. MULTIPLE CHOICE The class size increased 25% to 40 students. What was the
original class size? SECTION 4.2

A 10
B 30
C 32
D 50

Section 6.2 Surface Areas of Prisms 261