A cube has an edge length, a , that is a rational number of centimeters. Identify which measurement will require the use of irrational numbers.
Using the formula for the surface area of a cube, we have:
Surface Area = 6 * (a^2)
This formula involves squaring the edge length (a^2), which means that even if the edge length (a) is a rational number, the resulting surface area will generally be an irrational number. Thus, the measurement that will require the use of irrational numbers is the surface area of the cube.