To find the lateral surface area of a rectangular prism, you need to follow a straightforward formula. The lateral surface area refers to the area of the sides of the prism, excluding the top and bottom faces.
The formula for the lateral surface area (LSA) of a rectangular prism is:
LSA = 2h(l + w)
Where:
- h = height of the prism
- l = length of the base
- w = width of the base
To apply this formula, you simply need to know the height, length, and width of the rectangular prism. Once you have those measurements, plug them into the formula.
For example, if the height of the prism is 5 units, the length is 10 units, and the width is 4 units, you would calculate the lateral surface area like this:
LSA = 2 * 5 * (10 + 4) = 2 * 5 * 14 = 140 square units
Thus, the lateral surface area of the rectangular prism would be 140 square units. This area represents the total area of the four vertical sides of the prism. Always remember to use the same unit of measurement for all dimensions when performing your calculations.