Q&A for How to Find the Surface Area of a Box

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I'm painting a box 2' wide by 3' long by 2' high. If I'm not painting the bottom, how do I calculate the surface area I need to cover?

Donagan

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The top is 2 x 3; two sides are each 3 x 2; and the other two sides are each 2 x 2.

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What is the surface area of a box if the length is 4m the width is 2m and the height is 2m?

Donagan

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Multiply the length by the width and double it. Multiply the length by the height and double it. Multiply the width by the height and double it. Add those three amounts together.

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For the equation SA = 2(LW + LH + WH), how do I calculate H if it is unknown?

Donagan

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Assuming all the other values are known, you would manipulate the equation to solve for H: SA = 2LW + H(2L + 2W). Then SA - 2LW = H(2L + 2W), and (SA - 2LW) / (2L + 2W) = H. Then find H by plugging in the known values for SA, L and W.

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So for a box, I would do length * width * height * 2?

Donagan

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Yes.

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What is the formula for the surface area of a rectangular prism, excluding the base sitting on the ground?

Donagan

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Let "l" be the length, "w" be the width, and "h" be the height. The formula is (lw) + 2(lh) + 2(wh). The first term would be 2(lw) if the bottom base were to be included.

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I have a tank that is 5' wide x 6' tall. It is 3/8" thick, and made of carbon steel. What does it weigh?

Donagan

Top Answerer

You would first have to calculate the total surface area of the box in square inches (so you would have to know its length in addition to its width and height). Next you would have to calculate the volume of the steel in cubic inches. (Not the volume of the box, but the volume of the 3/8" steel material. You would multiply the total surface area in square inches by 3/8".) Finally you would have to know the density of carbon steel in pounds per cubic inch. Multiply the density by the volume of the steel.

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What is the surface area of a box open on both ends?

Donagan

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The surface area equals the height multiplied by the sum of twice the length and twice the width.

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How do I find the area of a long, rectangular, hollow box with no thickness?

Donagan

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First, we'll assume you're looking for the total surface area of a rectangular (or rectilinear) box, and we'll define that box as having a length (L), a width (W), and a depth (D). Find twice the product of L x W; to that add twice the product L x D; to that add twice the product W x D. The sum is the total surface area.

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How do I increase 10 percent of 50?

Donagan

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If you're asking how to increase 50 by 10%, calculate 10% of 50, and add that number to 50.

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V is 180 cubic centimeters and L is 15 centimeters what is h?

Donagan

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You can't find "h" without also knowing "w".

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What does it mean to talk about the surface area of a box?

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It means the sum of the areas of all sides. Common rectilinear boxes have six such sides, each a flat surface contained within straight edges, making area calculations simple.

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12 boxes of tile an area of 30m² so how many boxes are required to tile an area of 55m²?

Donagan

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The ratio or tile boxes to area covered is 12 / 30 or 2 / 5. Then 2 / 5 = x / 55, where x is the number of tile boxes required. Cross-multiply: (2)(55) = (5)(x), and x = 22 boxes.

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A box with a square base and a height of 8cm has a volume of 1352cm2. Find the length of the sides of the base?

Donagan

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Divide the volume by the height: 1352 / 8 = 169. Then 169 is the area of the square base. Each side length is the square root of 169, which is 13 cm.

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If a square box with a lid, has a capacity of 216 inch cubes, what is the perimeter of the lid?

Donagan

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Because it's not possible to know the dimensions of a box when only the volume is known, it's not possible to calculate the perimeter of the lid.

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