The surface area of a right rectangular prism can be calculated using the formula: SA = 2(lw + lh + wh), where l is the length, w is the width, and h is the height of the prism.
To break this down, let’s consider what each term represents:
- lw is the area of the base of the prism (width times length).
- lh is the area of the front and back faces of the prism (length times height).
- wh is the area of the two side faces of the prism (width times height).
When you multiply by 2, you’re accounting for all of the two pairs of opposite faces. So, if you know the dimensions of your right rectangular prism, simply plug them into the formula to find the total surface area. It’s a straightforward calculation that gives you a good sense of how much area is exposed on the outside of the prism!