Learn on PengiBig Ideas Math, Advanced 1Chapter 8: Surface Area and Volume

Lesson 2: Surface Areas of Prisms

In this Grade 6 lesson from Big Ideas Math Advanced 1, Chapter 8, students learn how to find the surface area of rectangular and triangular prisms by using nets — two-dimensional unfolded representations of a solid — to calculate and sum the areas of all faces. The lesson covers key vocabulary including surface area and nets, and walks students through worked examples using dimensions to compute total surface area in square units. Students apply these skills to both prisms with rectangular and triangular bases, connecting to Common Core standard 6.G.A.4.

Section 1

Identifying Components of a Prism

Property

A prism has two parallel, congruent bases and rectangular lateral faces connecting the bases.
The total number of faces equals the number of sides of the base plus 22.

Examples

Section 2

Finding Surface Area Using Nets

Property

A net is a 2D pattern that can be folded to form a 3D solid. To find surface area using nets:
(1) identify all faces in the net;
(2) calculate the area of each face;
(3) sum all areas: Surface Area = A1+A2+A3+...+AnA_1 + A_2 + A_3 + ... + A_n

Examples

Section 3

Surface Area Formulas for Prisms

Property

Cube whose edge is of length LL:

Surface Area =6L2= 6L^2

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 8: Surface Area and Volume

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Three-Dimensional Figures

  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Surface Areas of Prisms

  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Surface Areas of Pyramids

  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Volumes of Rectangular Prisms

Lesson overview

Expand to review the lesson summary and core properties.

Expand

Section 1

Identifying Components of a Prism

Property

A prism has two parallel, congruent bases and rectangular lateral faces connecting the bases.
The total number of faces equals the number of sides of the base plus 22.

Examples

Section 2

Finding Surface Area Using Nets

Property

A net is a 2D pattern that can be folded to form a 3D solid. To find surface area using nets:
(1) identify all faces in the net;
(2) calculate the area of each face;
(3) sum all areas: Surface Area = A1+A2+A3+...+AnA_1 + A_2 + A_3 + ... + A_n

Examples

Section 3

Surface Area Formulas for Prisms

Property

Cube whose edge is of length LL:

Surface Area =6L2= 6L^2

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 8: Surface Area and Volume

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 1: Three-Dimensional Figures

  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 2: Surface Areas of Prisms

  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Surface Areas of Pyramids

  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Volumes of Rectangular Prisms