Question

What is the surface area of this right rectangular prism?

Enter your answer as a mixed number in simplest form by filling in the boxes.
yd²
Rectangular prism with length 3 yards, width 1 and 1 third yard, and height 2 and 2 thirds yards.

Answer 1

31 and 4 ninths square yards.

Explanation:

The surface area of a right rectangular prism is the amount of wrapping paper you need to cover it up. To find it, you need to measure the length, width, and height of the prism. Then you can use this magic spell:

Surface area = 2 (lw + wh + lh) square units

where l is the length, w is the width, and h is the height.

For example, you have a right rectangular prism with length 3 yards, width 1 and 1 third yard, and height 2 and 2 thirds yards. That's a big gift! Using the magic spell, we get:

Surface area = 2 ((3 x 1 1/3) + (1 1/3 x 2 2/3) + (3 x 2 2/3)) yd² Surface area = 2 ((4 + 3 7/9 + 8)) yd² Surface area = 2 (15 7/9) yd² Surface area = 31 4/9 yd²

So the surface area of the right rectangular prism is 31 and 4 ninths square yards. That's a lot of wrapping paper! I hope you have enough tape!