Intermediate Geometry : Prisms

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Intermediate Geometry

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Example Questions

Example Question #71 : Geometry

A small rectangular jewelry box has two square ends with areas of 36 square centimeters, and a width of 10 centimeters.  What is the surface area of the outside of the jewelry box.

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the surface area of the rectangular box we just need to add up the areas of all six sides. We know that two of the sides are 36 square centimeters, that means we need to find the areas of the four mising sides. To find the area of the missing sides we can just multiply the side of one of the squares (6 cm) by the width of the box:

But remember we have four of these rectangular sides:

Now we just add the two square sides and four rectangular sides to find the total surface area of the jewelry box:

That is the total surface area!

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Prism

Alice is wrapping a rectangular box that measures .  How many square feet of wrapping paper does she need?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The surface area of a rectangular prism is given by

 where is the length, is the width, and is the height.

Let , , and 

So the equation to solve becomes  or 

However the question asks for an answer in square feet.  Knowing that  we can convert square inches to square feet.  It will take  of paper to wrap the present.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Prism

Find the surface area of the regular hexagonal prism.

2

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

13

In order to find the surface area, you will need to add up the areas of each face of the prism.

This hexagonal prism has two regular hexagons as its bases.

Recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Now, since we have two hexagons, we can multiply the area by  to get the area of both bases.

Next, this prism has  rectangles that make up its sides.

Recall how to find the area of a rectangle:

In this prism, the length is also the side of the hexagon, and the width of the rectangle is the height of the prism.

Now, multiply the area of the rectangle by  to find the total area of all of the sides of the prism.

Add together the area of the sides and of the bases to find the surface area of the prism.

Plug in the given values to find the surface area of the prism.

Make sure to round to  places after the decimal.

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Prism

Find the surface area of the regular hexagonal prism.

3

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

13

In order to find the surface area, you will need to add up the areas of each face of the prism.

This hexagonal prism has two regular hexagons as its bases.

Recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Now, since we have two hexagons, we can multiply the area by  to get the area of both bases.

Next, this prism has  rectangles that make up its sides.

Recall how to find the area of a rectangle:

In this prism, the length is also the side of the hexagon, and the width of the rectangle is the height of the prism.

Now, multiply the area of the rectangle by  to find the total area of all of the sides of the prism.

Add together the area of the sides and of the bases to find the surface area of the prism.

Plug in the given values to find the surface area of the prism.

Make sure to round to  places after the decimal.

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Prism

Find the surface area of the regular hexagonal prism.

4

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

13

In order to find the surface area, you will need to add up the areas of each face of the prism.

This hexagonal prism has two regular hexagons as its bases.

Recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Now, since we have two hexagons, we can multiply the area by  to get the area of both bases.

Next, this prism has  rectangles that make up its sides.

Recall how to find the area of a rectangle:

In this prism, the length is also the side of the hexagon, and the width of the rectangle is the height of the prism.

Now, multiply the area of the rectangle by  to find the total area of all of the sides of the prism.

Add together the area of the sides and of the bases to find the surface area of the prism.

Plug in the given values to find the surface area of the prism.

Make sure to round to  places after the decimal.

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Prism

Find the surface area of the regular hexagonal prism.

5

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

13

In order to find the surface area, you will need to add up the areas of each face of the prism.

This hexagonal prism has two regular hexagons as its bases.

Recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Now, since we have two hexagons, we can multiply the area by  to get the area of both bases.

Next, this prism has  rectangles that make up its sides.

Recall how to find the area of a rectangle:

In this prism, the length is also the side of the hexagon, and the width of the rectangle is the height of the prism.

Now, multiply the area of the rectangle by  to find the total area of all of the sides of the prism.

Add together the area of the sides and of the bases to find the surface area of the prism.

Plug in the given values to find the surface area of the prism.

Make sure to round to  places after the decimal.

Example Question #11 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Prism

Find the surface area of the regular hexagonal prism.

7

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

13

In order to find the surface area, you will need to add up the areas of each face of the prism.

This hexagonal prism has two regular hexagons as its bases.

Recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Now, since we have two hexagons, we can multiply the area by  to get the area of both bases.

Next, this prism has  rectangles that make up its sides.

Recall how to find the area of a rectangle:

In this prism, the length is also the side of the hexagon, and the width of the rectangle is the height of the prism.

Now, multiply the area of the rectangle by  to find the total area of all of the sides of the prism.

Add together the area of the sides and of the bases to find the surface area of the prism.

Plug in the given values to find the surface area of the prism.

Make sure to round to  places after the decimal.

Example Question #12 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Prism

Find the surface area of the regular hexagonal prism.

8

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

13

In order to find the surface area, you will need to add up the areas of each face of the prism.

This hexagonal prism has two regular hexagons as its bases.

Recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Now, since we have two hexagons, we can multiply the area by  to get the area of both bases.

Next, this prism has  rectangles that make up its sides.

Recall how to find the area of a rectangle:

In this prism, the length is also the side of the hexagon, and the width of the rectangle is the height of the prism.

Now, multiply the area of the rectangle by  to find the total area of all of the sides of the prism.

Add together the area of the sides and of the bases to find the surface area of the prism.

Plug in the given values to find the surface area of the prism.

Make sure to round to  places after the decimal.

Example Question #13 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Prism

Find the surface area of the regular hexagonal prism.

9

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

13

In order to find the surface area, you will need to add up the areas of each face of the prism.

This hexagonal prism has two regular hexagons as its bases.

Recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Now, since we have two hexagons, we can multiply the area by  to get the area of both bases.

Next, this prism has  rectangles that make up its sides.

Recall how to find the area of a rectangle:

In this prism, the length is also the side of the hexagon, and the width of the rectangle is the height of the prism.

Now, multiply the area of the rectangle by  to find the total area of all of the sides of the prism.

Add together the area of the sides and of the bases to find the surface area of the prism.

Plug in the given values to find the surface area of the prism.

Make sure to round to  places after the decimal.

Example Question #14 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Prism

Find the surface area of the regular hexagonal prism.

10

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

13

In order to find the surface area, you will need to add up the areas of each face of the prism.

This hexagonal prism has two regular hexagons as its bases.

Recall how to find the area of a regular hexagon:

Now, since we have two hexagons, we can multiply the area by  to get the area of both bases.

Next, this prism has  rectangles that make up its sides.

Recall how to find the area of a rectangle:

In this prism, the length is also the side of the hexagon, and the width of the rectangle is the height of the prism.

Now, multiply the area of the rectangle by  to find the total area of all of the sides of the prism.

Add together the area of the sides and of the bases to find the surface area of the prism.

Plug in the given values to find the surface area of the prism.

Make sure to round to  places after the decimal.

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