Apply the technique of using nets. What is the surface area of the rectangular prism whose dimensions measure 7 inches by 3 inches by 11 inches?
To find the surface area of a rectangular prism using nets, we can first draw out the net of the prism. The net of a rectangular prism consists of six rectangles, where the length and width of each rectangle corresponds to the different dimensions of the prism.
We can then calculate the area of each rectangle and add them up to find the total surface area of the prism. Using the dimensions given in the problem, the net of the rectangular prism would look like this:
```
+-------+ +-------+
| | | |
| | | |
+-------+ +-------+
7 inches 3 inches
+-----------------+
| |
| |
+-----------------+
11 inches
```
The top and bottom rectangles both have dimensions of 7 inches by 3 inches, so each has an area of:
```
7 inches x 3 inches = 21 square inches
```
There are two of these rectangles, so their combined area is:
```
2 x 21 square inches = 42 square inches
```
The side rectangles both have dimensions of 7 inches by 11 inches, so each has an area of:
```
7 inches x 11 inches = 77 square inches
```
There are two of these rectangles, so their combined area is:
```
2 x 77 square inches = 154 square inches
```
The front and back rectangles both have dimensions of 3 inches by 11 inches, so each has an area of:
```
3 inches x 11 inches = 33 square inches
```
There are two of these rectangles, so their combined area is:
```
2 x 33 square inches = 66 square inches
```
Finally, we can add up these areas to find the total surface area of the rectangular prism:
```
42 square inches + 154 square inches + 66 square inches = 262 square inches
```
Therefore, the surface area of the rectangular prism is 262 square inches.