The formula for the surface area of a rectangular prism is given by:
Surface Area = 2(lw + lh + wh)
Where:
- l = length of the prism
- w = width of the prism
- h = height of the prism
To understand this formula, let’s break it down. A rectangular prism has six faces, each of which is a rectangle. The surface area includes the areas of all six faces. The formula calculates the area of these faces in pairs:
- The area of the two faces that are length and width is lw.
- The area of the two faces that are length and height is lh.
- The area of the two faces that are width and height is wh.
By multiplying each area by 2 (since there are two identical faces for each pair), we arrive at the complete formula. Adding these areas together gives you the total surface area of the rectangular prism.