Lateral Area, Surface Area,
and Notes
Lateral Area
Lateral area – these are the flat sides of
prisms, cones, and cylinders
lateral face
There are 4 lateral faces on this shape
and 2 bases
Definitions
Lateral area – for prisms, cylinders and
cones – the area of the figure not including
the bases
Surface Area – the sum of the area of all of
the faces (sides and both bases)
Volume – a measure of the amount of space
contained in the interior of a solid
Prisms
To find Lateral Area:
perimeter times height of prism
LA = Ph
6
P is the perimeter
of the base
10
4
h is the height of the prism
Lateral Area
Identify the two bases.
6
4
10
P = 4 + 4 + 6 + 6 = 20
20 (10) = 200
Find the perimeter of one base (add all
the sides)
Multiply the perimeter by the height of
prism
Lateral Area
10 cm
Perimeter of a 6 sided base is 6 x
10….p = 60
h = 12
12cm
60(12) = 720
Answer is 720cm2
Answers for area are always squared
Surface Area
SA = LA + area of the 2 bases
You need to know how to find perimeter of any
polygon! (Just add all the sides)
Steps:
1. Find P and h
2. Find LA
3. Find base area
4. Add 2 base areas and the LA to get SA
5. Final answer will be in units 2
Surface Area
SA = LA + area of the 2 bases
Find P of base (4 + 4 + 10 + 10) = 28
h = 17
LA = Ph = (28)(17) = 476
Area of rectangle  l x w
Area of base = 4 x 10 = 40
SA = Ph + 2B = 476 + 2(40) = 556
SA = 556 cm 2
Find the Area and Perimeter
Side equals 7 in.
Side measures 3.5 cm
Find the Area and Perimeter
4 ft.
24 ft.
The base of triangle measures 12 ft.
Sides measure 10 ft.
Height measures 8 ft.