Surface Area of Triangular Prisms

Surface Area of Triangular Prism:

The following website has an interactive visual for the surface area formula of triangular prisms:

http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/SurfaceAreaAndVolume/

•  To find the surface area of a triangular prism, using a net is helpful. Draw one of the triangular bases with the measurement of each side written down and then draw rectangles from each site. The length of each rectangle is the length of the triangular prism.

•  Find the area of each piece, remembering that there are two triangles.

•  Add the areas together.

Example 1:

The area of the triangle is 6 x 8 which is 24 cm2.

2

Since there are two triangles multiply by 2: 48 cm2

The area of the three rectangles are: 8 cm x 12 cm = 96 cm2

6 cm x 12 cm = 72 cm2

10 cm x 12 cm = 120 cm2

Add these to get the surface area: 336 cm2

Surface Area Practice Name: ______

Solve each problem below!

1. Find the surface area of the triangular prism below:
Surface Area = ______in2 / 2. How much canvas would be needed for the tent below.

Surface Area = ______m2
3. A candy bar is in the shape of a triangular prism with a height of 6 inches. Each side of the triangle is 1 inch with a height of 0.8 in. How much paper will be needed for the wrapping?
Surface Area = ______in2 / 4. A block of cheese is in the shape of a triangular prism shown below. What is the minimum amount of wrapping needed to cover the cheese?
Surface Area = ______cm2

Surface Area Practice Answer Key Name: ______

Solve each problem below!

1. Find the surface area of the triangular prism below:
Area of 2 triangle bases:
()(3)(9) = 13.5 x 2 = 27
Area of rectangle faces:
4 x 12 = 48
7 x 12 = 84
9 x 12 = 108
S.A. = 48 in2 + 84 in2 + 108 in2 +27 in2 = 267m2
Surface Area = 267 in2 / 2. How much canvas would be needed for the tent below.

Area of 2 triangle bases:
()(2)(1.5) = 1.5 x 2 = 3
Area of rectangle faces:
2 x 3 = 6
1.8 x 3 = 5.4
1.8 x 3 = 5.4
S.A. = 3 m2 + 6 m2 + 5.4 m2 + 5.4 m2 = 19.8 m2
Surface Area = 19.8 m2
3. A candy bar is in the shape of a triangular prism with a height of 6 inches. Each side of the triangle is 1 inch with a height of 0.8 in. How much paper will be needed for the wrapping?
Area of 2 triangle bases:
()(1)(0.8) = 0.4 x 2 = 0.8
Area of rectangle faces:
1 x 6 = 6
1 x 6 = 6
1 x 6 = 6
S.A. = 0.8 in2 + 6 in2 + 6 in2 + 6 in2 = 18.8 in2
Surface Area = 18.8 in2 / 4. A block of cheese is in the shape of a triangular prism shown below (height is 4 cm). What is the minimum amount of wrapping needed to cover the cheese?
Area of 2 triangle bases:
()(4)(6) = 0.4 x 2 = 0.8
Area of rectangle faces:
1 x 6 = 6
1 x 6 = 6
1 x 6 = 6
S.A. = 0.8 in2 + 6 in2 + 6 in2 + 6 in2 = 18.8 in2
Surface Area = ______cm2