๐ Topic Summary
The surface area of a rectangular prism is the total area of all its faces. Since a rectangular prism has three pairs of identical faces, we can calculate the surface area by finding the area of each unique face, multiplying by two, and then adding those values together. Understanding this concept allows us to determine the amount of material needed to cover the entire prism.
๐ Part A: Vocabulary
Match the term with its correct definition:
- Rectangular Prism
- Surface Area
- Length
- Width
- Height
- The distance from one side to the other (shorter side).
- A three-dimensional object with six rectangular faces.
- The total area of all the faces of a 3D object.
- The vertical distance from the base to the top.
- The longest dimension of a rectangular face.
โ๏ธ Part B: Fill in the Blanks
A rectangular prism has six faces. To find the surface area, you need to calculate the ______ of each face. Since opposite faces are ______, you only need to find the area of three unique faces. Then, ______ each of those areas by two and add them together to get the total ______ area. The dimensions needed are ______, width, and height.
๐ค Part C: Critical Thinking
Imagine you're designing a box to hold a special gift. How would understanding surface area help you minimize the amount of cardboard needed?