How To Find the Surface Area of a Box

It is easy to find the surface area of a box if you know the length of the sides.If you know how long the sides are, you can use a basic equation to get your answer.The surface area of cylindrical boxes can be found with a few simple measurements.

Step 1: The surface area of the box can be added together.

The total area of each side is called the surface area.If you know how to find the area of a regular rectangle which is the length times the height, you can find each side and add them together.If you know the measurement of the box, there is a simplified formula that will do it for you.The box's height.The box has a width.

Step 2: Take the length of the box.

This is the longest side.There should be 4 lines that are the same length across the box.To make it easier to measure, lay the box down on its longest side.The box is 5 feet in length.

Step 3: Measure the distance from the floor to the top of the box.

Don't measure the same side as the length.The box is 4 feet tall.

Step 4: The box's width is measured.

The side forms a right angle with the length.Don't remeasuring the height.The box is 2 feet in width.

Step 5: Don't measure the same side twice.

The easiest way to prevent this is to make sure that all three lines meet.Measure the three sides of the corner to make sure you have the right measurement.The sides may be the same measurement.Even if two or three of them are all the same, you want to make sure you're measuring three unique sides.

Step 6: To solve the equation, input your measurements into the formula.

The rest is easy if you have the numbers.Add it all up with the measurements.There is a displaystyle for the SurfaceArea.

Step 7: When done, use "units squared" to express your answer.

A crucial part of your answer is how you measured everything.All you need to do is use the units in the question.You would put "feet squared" at the end of your answer if the units were in feet.The answer is yes.

Step 8: The boxes should be broken into smaller pieces to find the surface area.

You have a "L" shaped box.If you want to find everything by hand, think of two boxes, the vertical half on top and the horizontal part on the bottom.Add the two together to get the total surface area.If you have a U shaped box, the bottom has a surface area of 12 units squared.The sides have a surface area of 15 units squared.The total area would be 42.

Step 9: To find the surface of a cylinder, add the area of the bases to the height times.

This only works with the right cylinders.If the area of the base is 3, the height is 5, and the circumference is 6, what is the surface area?The area of the base is the answer.It's the height of the cylinder.It's the diameter of the base.

Step 10: You can find the area of the base.

The end of the cylinder is the base.The formula Area is used to find it.The constant is rounded to 3.14 for simple problems.If you don't have a calculator, you can leave it as "pi".The cylinder has a base that is 2.What is the area of the base?The displaystyle pi*(2)2 B is equal to pi.

Step 11: The base's circumference should be calculated.

The distance is around the edge of the circle.The previous example was 2pi(1)displaystyle 2*pi*(2) C.

Step 12: Measure the space between the bases to find the height of the cylinder.

The cylinder's height is used to figure out how long it is.The line is between the two bases.The height is 5 inches in the same cylinder.

Step 13: To find your surface area, input your smaller parts into the formula.

Plug the numbers into your formula to get the right answer once you have your base area, circumference, and height.SurfaceArea=2B+hCdisplaystyle

Step 14: Put your answer in units squared.

Units are needed to give the problems of the surface area scale.Is the area in inches or feet.The units match the ones given to you in the problem.The phrase "units squared" should be written if there is no units given.The final answer would be 28pidisplaystyle.

Step 15: Try to solve some problems with a piece of paper.

The top is 5x3x2, and the answers are shown right after the arrow.There are 118pi units squared.

Step 16: Try out some problems with cylinders.

If you want to see the answers, highlight after the arrow.