Surface Area
REVIEW
Write the definition (associated with math) of the following terms. Please use your own
words and provide an example. (3 pts)
Area
Net
Surface Area
ACTIVITY
Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism
1. You are the manager at the Smarties factory. Times are tough and you need to
find a new paint company to cover your boxes with paint. First you need to find
the surface area of your boxes.
2. Obtain a Smarties box from Mrs. Attwater. Do not open or eat them until
directed to do so.
3. Carefully open the box and dump out the Smarties. You may now eat them while
working on the assignment.
4. Follow the instructions on taking the box apart.
5. Place the box on the 1 cm grid paper and trace around it. Include all the crease
lines in your tracing. Be neat and careful.
DISCUSSION
6. What do you notice about the net of a rectangular prism (what is it made up of)?
(1 pt)
7. Count up the squares inside the net to determine the surface area of the box. (1
pt)
8. Is unfolding a rectangular prism, laying it flat and measuring it an efficient way to
calculate the surface area of any rectangular prism? Why? Why not? (1 pt)
9. Create a formula that would help you calculate the surface area of a rectangular
prism. (1 pt)
Surface Area of a Cylinder
1. Obtain a copy of the net of a cylinder from Mrs. Attwater.
2. Carefully cut it out.
3. Form it into a cylinder several times so you can understand how it comes
together. This is very important!
4. What do you notice about the net of a cylinder (what is is made up of)? (1 pt)
5. Count the number of squares inside the net to determine the surface area of the
cylinder. (1 pt)
10. Is unfolding a cylinder, laying it flat and measuring it an efficient way to calculate
the surface area of any cylinder? Why? Why not? (1 pt)
6. Create a formula that would help you calculate the surface area of a cylinder
(HINT try step 3 again). (1 pt)
7. Based on the activity, what can you conclude about finding surface area of 3D
shapes? (1 pt)
8. What is another efficient way of finding surface area of a 3D shape if you do not
have a formula? (1 pt)
9. Find the surface area formulas for the following shapes. (4 pts)
Shape
Formula
PRACTICE – For the following questions SHOW ALL WORK!
1. Calculate the surface area of the following shapes. (2 pts x 4 = 8 pts TOTAL)
2. Simon wants to re-shingle his roof. What is the surface area of the roof? Round
your answer to the nearest square metre. If shingles cost $2.50 a square metre,
how much will it cost to re-shingle the roof? Put a concluding statement. (4 pts)
3. A container is designed to hold six pin-pong balls stacked in a row. The diameter
of each pin-pong ball is 40mm. Which would use more packaging a square
based prism or a cylinder? Put a concluding statement.(5 pts)