Jenny has found the total surface area and the lateral surface area of a prism, but she can't remember which is which. She got answers of 144in. and 304in. How would you distinguish which answer is lateral surface area and which is total surface area? (1 point)
To distinguish which answer is the lateral surface area and which is the total surface area, we need to consider the formulas for each.
The formula for the lateral surface area of a prism is given by the formula:
Lateral surface area = perimeter of base * height
The total surface area of a prism, on the other hand, is given by the formula:
Total surface area = sum of the areas of all faces
Given the two answers provided - 144in. and 304in. - we can compare these values to the formulas above.
If we find that one answer is less than the other, it is likely to be the lateral surface area, as the lateral surface area is always smaller than the total surface area. So, the answer of 144in. would likely be the lateral surface area.
Conversely, if we find that one answer is greater than the other, it would likely be the total surface area. Therefore, the answer of 304in. would likely be the total surface area.
In this case, 144in. is likely the lateral surface area and 304in. is likely the total surface area.