i still don't get surface area!
Imagine that you want to decorate a box with a different colored paper on each side.
If the top and bottom are 6 inches by 8 inches, you'll need two pieces, each 48 square inches.
Maybe these videos will help you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcjnz26pnwY
http://www.schooltube.com/video/df25c5db19b6c327f891/
Surface area is the total area of all the faces or surfaces of a three-dimensional object. It is often measured in square units, such as square centimeters or square meters.
To understand surface area, it's helpful to visualize a three-dimensional object. Let's consider a rectangular prism as an example.
To find the surface area of a rectangular prism, follow these steps:
1. Identify the faces of the prism: A rectangular prism has six faces - two parallel rectangular bases and four rectangular sides connecting these bases.
2. Calculate the area of each face: To find the area of a rectangle, multiply its length by its width. Measure the length and width of each face and calculate the area for each one.
3. Add up the areas of all the faces: Once you have calculated the area of each face, simply add them up to find the total surface area of the prism.
Keep in mind that depending on the shape and complexity of the object, the calculation for surface area may vary. For example, for a sphere, the surface area formula is different.
If you have a specific shape or object in mind, let me know, and I can provide a more detailed explanation.