1. Which description can represent the surface area of this briefcase?
A. The number of cubic inches that can be packed inside the briefcase.
B. The number of inches tall the briefcase is.
C. The number of square inches of horizontal surface inside the briefcase.
D. The number of square inches that cover all the outside faces of the briefcase.
To determine the description that represents the surface area of the briefcase, we need to understand what surface area means.
Surface area refers to the total area of all the outer faces of a three-dimensional object, in this case, the briefcase. It does not include the space inside the briefcase or its volume, but only measures the area of the outside surfaces.
Now, let's examine the given options:
A. The number of cubic inches that can be packed inside the briefcase: This option refers to the volume or capacity of the briefcase, not its surface area. So, option A is incorrect.
B. The number of inches tall the briefcase is: This option only provides the height of the briefcase, but does not capture its complete surface area. Hence, option B is incorrect as well.
C. The number of square inches of horizontal surface inside the briefcase: This option refers to the area of the inside surfaces of the briefcase, but the surface area specifically relates to the outside faces of the object. Therefore, option C is not the correct description.
D. The number of square inches that cover all the outside faces of the briefcase: This option accurately describes the surface area of the briefcase. It considers all the outside faces and provides the total area in square inches. Thus, option D is the correct answer.
Therefore, the correct answer is D. The number of square inches that cover all the outside faces of the briefcase.