Steply

Net of a box 1 by 1 by 9

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Nets and surface area · Geometry

Step by step

The question

Question: draw the net of a box 1 by 1 by 9, and find its surface area.

box 1 by 1 by 9

The surface area is the area of all the outside faces together.

A net shows every face flat.

surface area = all the faces added

1 Unfold it

We cut along some edges and fold it flat.

Matching faces have the same colour.

2 Area of each face

Top and bottom: 1 × 1 is 1.

= top and bottom: 1 × 1 = 1

Front and back: 1 × 9 is 9.

= front and back: 1 × 9 = 9

The two sides: 1 × 9 is 9.

= the two sides: 1 × 9 = 9

Careful!

Count every face in the net.

A box has 6 faces, not 3.

Careful: not 1 + 9 + 9 = 19 ✗

3 Add them all

We add all 6 faces: 38.

= SA = 1 + 1 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 = 38

4 Check

Let's check another way.

The faces come in pairs.

One of each: 1 plus 9 plus 9 is 19.

Times 2 is 38.

So the answer is right!

2 × (1 + 9 + 9) = 2 × 19 = 38

Let's look back.

First: unfold it.

Then: area of each face.

Then: add them all.

Last: check.

Answer
= SA = 1 + 1 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 = 38

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

box 1 by 1 by 14
Show the answer
58

More from Nets and surface area

The whole lesson: Nets and surface area →