I know how to find the surface area of a rectangular prism but, I am not sure when given the coordinates of 4 feet by 6 feet by 8 feet which is which? For example: height, width, length? I don't know which way it goes?
Thank You very much for any help you can give me.
It doesn't make any difference.
The surface area consists of a top, bottom, and four sides.
2(4 * 6) + 2(6 * 8) + 2(4 * 8) =
Thank You Ms. Sue - you have been a great help as always.
Josh
You're very welcome, Josh. :-)
No problem! To determine which dimension corresponds to height, width, and length in a rectangular prism, you can use a simple method. The height is generally considered to be the measurement along the vertical y-axis, the width along the horizontal x-axis, and the length along the depth or distance along the z-axis.
In the case of a rectangular prism with coordinates of 4 feet by 6 feet by 8 feet, you can apply this logic to identify each dimension.
First, take a look at the three measurements: 4 feet, 6 feet, and 8 feet. Since the 4 and 6 are smaller than the 8, it is unlikely that they correspond to the length. Length typically refers to the longest side of the rectangular prism.
Next, look at the remaining dimensions, 4 feet and 6 feet. Since these are still different from each other, one of them likely corresponds to the width, and the other is the height.
Now, take a moment to consider the orientation of the rectangular prism. If you were to hold it upright, with one face parallel to the ground, the dimension that goes from the ground to the topmost point would be the height. The dimension that extends from left to right would be the width. The remaining dimension, from front to back, would be the length.
So, in your case, if you have a rectangular prism with coordinates of 4 feet by 6 feet by 8 feet, the height would be 8 feet, the width would be 4 feet, and the length would be 6 feet.
Remember, the terminology may vary depending on the context or field of study, so always double-check if you encounter specific instructions or conventions that differ from the general guidelines explained above.