How do I find the lateral area on a rectangular prism? I can't figure out which sides are the lateral sides since all of them are parallel

Generally by lateral area of a rectangular prism (a box), they mean the 4 vertical sides.

That is, exclude the area of the top and the base.
Take it from there, if you know the dimensions.

this might help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5aHXGyh61k

lateral area means everything but the top and bottom

To find the lateral area of a rectangular prism, you need to identify the lateral faces. In a rectangular prism, all four sides are considered lateral faces since they are parallel to each other.

Here's a step-by-step process to find the lateral area of a rectangular prism:

Step 1: Identify the dimensions of the rectangular prism. For example, let's say the length is L units, the width is W units, and the height is H units.

Step 2: Calculate the area of one of the lateral faces (A) using the formula:

A = length × height or A = L × H

Step 3: Repeat step 2 for the other lateral faces.

Step 4: Calculate the total lateral area by adding the areas of all four lateral faces:

Lateral Area = 2 × A (for each lateral face)

= 2 × (L × H) + 2 × (W × H)

= 2LH + 2WH

So, the lateral area of a rectangular prism is 2LH + 2WH. Make sure to substitute the values of L, W, and H to find the numerical answer.

To find the lateral area of a rectangular prism, you need to know its dimensions. A rectangular prism has six faces, and the lateral sides are the four non-base faces—these faces are perpendicular to the height of the prism.

Here's how you can determine the lateral area step by step:

1. Identify the dimensions: A rectangular prism has three dimensions—length (L), width (W), and height (H).

2. Determine the height: The height is usually perpendicular to the base faces and runs vertically in the middle of the prism. Find the value of H.

3. Calculate the lateral area: The lateral area can be found by multiplying the height of the rectangular prism by the sum of the lengths of the four lateral sides, which are parallel to each other.

Lateral area = 2 * H * (L + W)

Here, L and W represent the dimensions of the base of the prism.

4. Substitute values and calculate: Plug in the known values for H, L, and W into the formula and perform the calculation to find the lateral area.

By following these steps, you will be able to find the lateral area of a rectangular prism.