Final answer:
To find the amount of paper Tim needs, calculate the surface area of the box using the formula 2lw + 2lh + 2wh.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the amount of paper Tim needs to wrap the entire box, we need to calculate the surface area of the box. The surface area of a rectangular prism can be found by adding up the areas of all six sides. The formula for surface area of a rectangular prism is:
Surface Area = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh
In this case, the length (l) is 15 inches, the width (w) is 9 inches, and the height (h) is 4 inches. Plugging these values into the formula, we get:
Surface Area = 2(15)(9) + 2(15)(4) + 2(9)(4) = 270 + 120 + 72 = 462
Therefore, Tim needs 462 square inches of paper to wrap the entire box.