SURFACE AREA

In this unit, you will examine the surface area of several solids. First, you will examine
the nets of solids (two-dimensional representations of solids) and calculate the surface
area by examining the areas of each face of the solid. You will then develop and apply
formulas for the surface area of cubes, prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones, and spheres.
Finally, you will examine how to draw and interpret three-dimensional figures sketched
on a two-dimensional surface.

Surface Area and Nets

Surface Area of Prisms and Cylinders

Surface Area of Pyramids and Cones

Surface Area of Spheres

Drawing Three-Dimensional Figures

Isometric Dot Paper

Surface Area and Nets

surface area – Surface area is the sum of all the areas of a solid’s outer surfaces.

net - A net is a two-dimensional representation of a solid. The surface area of a solid is

equal to the area of its net.

Example: Find the surface area of rectangular prism that measures 16 inches by
10 inches by 14 inches.

14 in

10 in
16 in

Method 1:

Use the formula A = lw to find the areas of the surfaces.

Front and Back: (16 ×14) × 2 = 448

Top and Bottom: (16 × 10) × 2 = 320
Two Sides: (10 × 14) × 2 = 280

Add to find the total surface area: 448 + 320 + 280 = 1048

SA = 1048 in 2

The surface area of a 16 by 10 by 14 inch rectangular prism is 1048 square inches.

Method 2:

Draw a net for the rectangular prism and label the dimensions of each face. Find
the area of each face, and then add to find the total surface area.

back 14 in

top side bottom side 10 in

16 in 14 in 14 in
front 14 in

16 in

Side: 14 × 10 = 140
Bottom: 16 × 10 = 160
Side: 14 × 10 = 140
Top: 16 × 10 = 160
Front: 16 ×14 = 224
Back: 16 × 14 = 224

Total: 140 + 160 + 140 + 160 + 224 + 224 = 1048

The surface area of the rectangular prism is 1048 in 2 .

Surface Area of Prisms and Cylinders

Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism

The surface area of a solid is the sum of the areas of all surfaces of a figure.

A net is a two-dimensional representation of a solid. The surface area of a solid is equal

to the area of its net.

Example 1: Find the surface area of a 16 inch × 10 inch × 14 inch (rectangular

prism).

14 in

10 in
16 in

Method 1: Use the formula A = l x w to find the areas of the surfaces.

Front and Back (2 faces): 16 × 14 × 2 = 448

Top and Bottom (2 faces): 16 × 10 × 2 = 320
Sides (2 faces): 10 × 14 × 2 = 280

Add to find the total surface area: 448 + 320 + 280 = 1048.
The surface area of a 16 inch × 10 inch × 14 inch rectangular

prism is 1048 in 2 .
Method 2: Draw a net for the prism and label the dimensions for each face.
Find the area of each face, and then add to find the total surface area.

back 14 in

top side bottom side 10 in

16 in 14 in 14 in
front 14 in

16 in

Back: 16 × 14 = 224

Bottom: 16 × 10 = 160
Front: 16 × 14 = 224
Top: 16 × 10 = 160
Side: 10 × 14 = 140
Side: 10 × 14 = 140

Total: 160 + 140 + 160 + 140 + 224 + 224 = 1048

The surface area of the box is 1048 in 2 .

Surface Area of a Prism

A prism is any figure that has two parallel and congruent bases in the shape of polygons
and the other faces are all parallelograms. The parallelograms are called lateral faces of
a prism and connect the bases.

The lateral area of a prism is the sum of the areas of the lateral faces.

The surface area of a prism is the sum of the lateral area plus the areas of the bases.

Example 2: Find the surface area

of a triangular prism with a height
10 in
of 15 inches and a base which is a
right triangle. The dimensions of
the right triangle are a base
measuring 8 inches and a height
measuring 6 inches.
.
6 in 15 in

8 in

This prism is called a triangular prism because the bases of the prism are shaped
like triangles. Therefore,

Step 1: Draw a net for the triangular prism and the label the dimensions for
each face.

6 in
Base 1

8 in

Side 1
Side Side 2 Side 3
15 in 15 in

8 in
6 in 10 in
Base 2
6 in
 Step 2: Find the area of the triangular bases.

1
Use A = bh to find the area of the bases.
2
1
A(Base 1) = ⋅ 8 ⋅ 6 = 24
2
1
A(Base 2) = ⋅ 8 ⋅ 6 = 24
2

Step 3: Find the area of each of the rectangular lateral faces.

Use A = bh to find the area of the sides.

A(Side 1) = 6 ×15 = 90
A(Side 2) = 8 × 15 = 120
A(Side 3) = 10 × 15 = 150

Step 4: Find the sum of all the areas.

Add: 24 + 24 + 90 + 120 + 150 = 408.

The surface area of the triangular prism is 408 in 2 .

Surface Area of a Cube

The surface area of a cube is the total area of all of the square faces measured in square
units.

A cube is a special rectangular prism because the lengths of all of its edges are the same
and all of its faces have the same area.

Area is measured in square units.

Square Unit

e
Let’s develop the formula to compute the surface area of a cube.

Step 1: One face of a cube is a square. Its area is found by multiplying the length
(e) and the width (e). (Note: e represents the length of one edge of the cube.)

A(one face) = e × e = e 2

Step 2: A cube has six (6) faces and they all have the same area.

A(one face) = e 2

Surface Area (SA) =A(six faces) = 6 × e 2

SA = 6e2

To find the surface area of a cube, multiply the area of one face ( e 2 ) times 6.
 Example 3: Find the surface area of a cube with an edge that measures 7 inches.

SA = 6e 2
Area of one face is 7 × 7
SA = 6 × 7 2 or 49 sq in.
SA = 6 × 49
SA = 294 Area of six faces is 49 × 6
or 294 square inches.
7 in

The surface area of cube with an edge that measures 7 inches is 294 square
inches.

Changing Dimensions

Find the surface area of the two cubes. Notice that the edge of the larger cube
is twice as long as the edge of the smaller cube.

3 in 6 in

SA = 6e 2 SA = 6e 2
SA = 6 × 3 2 SA = 6 × 6 2
SA = 54 sq in SA = 216 sq in

To compare the two surface areas, divide 216 by 54, to get four (4). The surface area of
the larger cube is four times the surface area of the smaller cube.

When the length, width, and height of a cube are doubled, the surface area is four
times greater.
Surface Area of a Cylinder

The surface area of a cylinder is determined by adding the lateral area to the area of the
two circular bases. The lateral area, the body of the cylinder, is rectangular when laid flat.

Let’s examine how the formula is derived for finding the surface area of a cylinder.

A = π r2

h (height)

C = 2π r (base)*

A = π r2

*The base of the rectangular area is equal to the circumference of either of the circular
bases.

To calculate the surface area of a cylinder, calculate the area of the three parts of the
cylinder: the top, the bottom, and the body.

Top: Circle Bottom: Circle Body

A = bh
A = C×h
A = π × r2 A = π × r2
A = 2π r × h
A = 2π rh
Therefore, SA = π r 2 + π r 2 + 2π rh .

This formula simplifies to SA = 2π r 2 + 2π rh

Thus, the surface area of a cylinder can be found by using the formula:

SA = 2π r 2 + 2π rh

The lateral area of a cylinder (the area of the body) is found using LA = 2π rh .

Example 4: Find the surface area of a cylinder with a radius

that measures 2 inches and a height that measures 3 inches.

SA = 2π r 2 + 2π rh
SA = 2(3.14)(22 ) + 2(3.14)(2)(3)
SA = 2(3.14)(4) + 2(3.14)(2)(3)
SA = 25.12 + 37.68
SA = 62.8

The surface area of the cylinder is 62.8 square inches.

Example 5: Find the lateral area of the cylinder above.

LA = 2π rh
LA = 2(3.14)(2)(3)
LA = 37.68

The lateral area (area of the body) of the cylinder is 37.68 square inches
Surface Area of Pyramids and Cones

Surface Area of a Pyramid

A pyramid is a figure which has a base that is a polygon and triangles for its sides that
all meet at a common vertex. A pyramid is named for the shape of its base. The lateral
faces of the pyramid are the triangular sides that intersect at the vertex.

The height of the pyramid is the perpendicular distance between the base and the vertex.

A regular pyramid has a regular polygon (all sides congruent) for its base and all of the
lateral faces of the pyramid are congruent isosceles triangles.

The slant height of a pyramid is the height of any of the triangular lateral faces. It is
measured along the lateral surface. Unless other specified, the pyramids we study will be
regular pyramids.

The surface area of any pyramid is the sum of the areas of the base and the lateral area.

Example 1: Find the surface area of a 15 in

regular pyramid with a square base
measuring 12 inches on one side and a
slant height of 15 inches.

12 in

12 in

Step 1: Draw a net for the regular pyramid and the label the dimensions for
each face.

Side 3

Base
Side 4
Side 2 12 in

12 in

Side 1 l = 15 inches for all lateral

faces.
 Step 2: Find the area of the square base. Use formula A = l × w to find the
area of the base.

A= l×w
A(Square Base) = 12 × 12

A(Square Base) = 144 in 2

Step 3: Find the area of the triangular surfaces.

1
A = bh
2
1
A(Side 1) = ⋅ 12 ⋅ 15 = 90
2
1
A(Side 2) = ⋅ 12 ⋅ 15 = 90
2
1
A(Side 3) = ⋅ 12 ⋅ 15 = 90
2
1
A(Side 4) = ⋅ 12 ⋅ 15 = 90
2

Step 4:

Add to find the total surface area: 144 + 90 + 90 + 90 + 90 = 504.

The surface area of the square pyramid is 504 in 2 .

Surface Area of a Cone

cone - A cone is a three-dimensional figure that has a circular base and one vertex. The
lateral face is a circle sector.

base – The base of a cone is a circle.

height – The height of a cone is a segment that has an endpoint at the vertex and is
perpendicular to the base.

slant height – The slant height of a right cone is the length of any segment that joins the
vertex to the edge of the base.

Cone

slant height height

lateral surface area – The lateral surface area of a cone is the area of the curved surface.

To find the lateral surface of a cone, use the following formula:

LA = π rl

*Note: The development of this formula is left to study in a more advanced mathematics
course.

Example 2: Find the lateral surface area of a party hat that has a
radius of three inches and a slant height of six inches.
l = 6 in
LA = π rl Formula for Lateral Area of a Cone
LA = π (3)(6) Substitution (r = 3, l = 6)
LA = 18π Simplify
LA = 56.52 Simplify r = 3 in

The lateral area of the party hat (cone) is 56.52 square inches.
surface area – The surface area of a cone is the sum of the lateral area and the base area.

Surface area = Base Area + Lateral Area

SA = B + π rl

r r A = πr 2

= +
Slant height l
l
A = πr l
vertex

The surface area of a cone is the sum of the area of its base and its lateral area.

SA = π r 2 + π rl

Example 3: Find the surface area of a cone with a slant height of 7 in

25 inches and a radius of 7 inches. Round the answer to the
nearest square inch.

SA = π r 2 + π rl Formula for Surface Area of a Cone

SA = π (7) 2 + π (7)(25) Substitution 25 in
SA = 49π + 175π Simplify
SA = 224π Simplify
SA = 703.36 Simplify

The surface area of the cone is approximately 703 square inches.

Surface Area of Spheres

A sphere is a 3-dimensional figure with all points equidistant from a fixed point called its
center.

The center of a sphere is the fixed point from which all points on a sphere are a given
distance.

A radius of a sphere is a segment that has one endpoint on the sphere and the other at
the center of the sphere.

A diameter of a sphere is a chord that passes through the center of the sphere.

r
great circle d

A great circle is the circle formed when a circle is sliced such that the slice contains the
center of the sphere. The equator is the Earth’s great circle.

A hemisphere is half a sphere. A great circle divides a sphere into two congruent
hemispheres.
When examining the surface area of a sphere, it takes four areas of its great circle to
cover the sphere.

Surface Area = 4 × Base Area

= 4 × πr2
great circle
B

r 4 ×
A = πr2
=
r

The surface area of a sphere is four times the area of its great circle.

SA = 4π r 2

Example 1: Find the surface area of a sphere with a radius of 2 inches. Round the
answer to the nearest whole square inch.

SA = 4π r 2

SA = 4 π (2 2 ) -Substitution 2
SA = 16 π -Simplify
SA = 50.24 -Simplify

The surface area of the sphere is approximately 50 square inches.

Add the following example.

Example 2: The surface area for the sphere is 700 square centimeters. What is the
radius? Round the answer to the nearest tenth.

SA = 4π r 2
?
700 = 4 π r 2 -Substitution

700 = 12.56r 2 -Simplify

700
= r2 -Divide both sides by 12.56
12.56

55.73 = r 2 -Simplify to the nearest hundredth.

55.73 = r 2 -Take the square root of both sides.

7.5 = r -Simplify to the nearest tenth.

The radius of the sphere is approximately 7.5 inches.

Drawing Three-Dimensional Figures

Three-dimensional figures have faces, edges, and vertices. A face is a flat surface. An
edge is where two faces meet. A vertex is where three edges meet.

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Using Isometric Dot Paper to Sketch Solids

Isometric dot paper will be used to draw various three-dimensional figures.

Example 1: Use isometric dot paper to

sketch a rectangular prism that is four units
long, three units wide, and three units tall.

Step 1: Draw the edges of the bottom

face. (4 units by 3 units, parallelogram)

Step 2: Draw the vertical line segments

from the vertices of the base. (3 units
high)

Step 3: Draw the top face by connecting

the vertical lines. (4 units by 3 units,
parallelogram)
Example 2: Draw a unit cube using three axes that form120 degrees on isometric
dot paper.

120

Step 1: Pick a point on the isometric dot

paper. Draw a set of three axes that form 120
degrees. 120 120

Step 2: Draw a unit cube where the three axes

intersect.

Example 3: Draw unit cubes from different points

of view.

Sample 1: Unit cubes from one point of view.

 Sample 2: Unit cubes from another point of
view.

Example 4: Use the three views of the solid below to build the solid unit on
isometric dot paper.

Top Side Front

Step 1: The top view gives information about the

bottom. There are 12 cubic units on the bottom.

Step 2: The side view shows that there are three

layers in the solid.
 Step 3: The front view shows how to form the
three layers of cubes. The middle rows of cubes
are missing from the top two layers.

Perspective

Perspective is used to make three-dimensional objects appear to have depth and distance.
In a one-point perspective drawing, there is a vanishing point. The vanishing point is the
point where lines running away from the view meet.

Example 5: Use isometric dot paper to sketch a one-point perspective drawing of

a three dimensional rectangular prism that has a front face that measures 2 units
long and 3 units high .

Step 1: Draw a rectangle. This is the front face.

Label the vertices ABCD. (2 units long by 3 units
high)
A B

D C
Step 2: Choose and label a vanishing V
point V somewhere above the
rectangle and draw a dashed line from
each vertex to V.

A B

D C
Step 3: Choose a point along the dotted V
segment AV. Label this point E. Draw
a smaller rectangle with E as one of its
vertices. Label this smaller rectangle
EFGH.

E F

H G

A B

D C

V
Step 4: Connect the vertices of the two
rectangles along the dashed lines.

E F

H G

A B

D C
 E F
Step 5: Erase the vanishing point and all the lines
connecting from the vantage point to the vertices of
rectangle EFGH.
H G
The result is a drawing of a three-dimensional
rectangular prism with one-point perspective and
sketched on a two-dimensional surface (paper).
A B

D C
Isometric Dot Paper