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Net of a box 10 by 5 by 4

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 10 by 5 by 4, and find its surface area.

box 10 by 5 by 4

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: 10 × 5 is 50.

= top and bottom: 10 × 5 = 50

Front and back: 10 × 4 is 40.

= front and back: 10 × 4 = 40

The two sides: 5 × 4 is 20.

= the two sides: 5 × 4 = 20

Careful!

Count every face in the net.

A box has 6 faces, not 3.

Careful: not 50 + 40 + 20 = 110 ✗

3 Add them all

We add all 6 faces: 220.

= SA = 50 + 50 + 40 + 40 + 20 + 20 = 220

4 Check

Let's check another way.

The faces come in pairs.

One of each: 50 plus 40 plus 20 is 110.

Times 2 is 220.

So the answer is right!

2 × (50 + 40 + 20) = 2 × 110 = 220

Let's look back.

First: unfold it.

Then: area of each face.

Then: add them all.

Last: check.

Answer
= SA = 50 + 50 + 40 + 40 + 20 + 20 = 220

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

box 12 by 6 by 5
Show the answer
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