IXL | Surface area of triangular prisms

A triangular prism is shown below.

Which diagram is a net for this prism?

What is the surface area of the triangular prism?

square centimeters

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question

A triangular prism is shown below.

Which diagram is a net for this prism?

What is the surface area of the triangular prism?

square millimeters

key idea

A net shows all the faces of a three-dimensional figure.

A triangular prism has two triangular bases and three rectangular lateral faces. Its surface area is the sum of the areas of all five faces.

solution

Five faces make up the triangular prism:

two triangular bases, each with a base of 32 millimeters and a height of 12 millimeters
two rectangular lateral faces with a length of 20 millimeters and a width of 10 millimeters
one rectangular lateral face with a length of 32 millimeters and a width of 10 millimeters

This is a net for the prism. It shows all of the faces and, when folded up, will form the prism.

To find the surface area of the prism, add up the areas of all five faces.

There are two triangular bases, each with a base of 32 millimeters and a height of 12 millimeters. Find the area of one of them.

(

)

(

)

(

384

)

192

square millimeters

There are two rectangular faces with a length of 20 millimeters and a width of 10 millimeters. Find the area of one of them.

(

)

200

square millimeters

There is one rectangular face with a length of 32 millimeters and a width of 10 millimeters. Find its area.

(

)

320

square millimeters

Finally, find the sum of the areas of the two triangular bases and the three rectangular lateral faces.

(

192

)

(

200

)

320

384

400

320

1,104

The surface area of the triangular prism is 1,104 square

millimeters.

Looking for more? Try this:

Lesson: What is surface area?

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

FF.3Nets of three-dimensional figures

GG.6Area of triangles

Surface area of cubes and rectangular prisms

Lesson: What is surface area?

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