A shipping box has a length of 12.5 inches, a height of 9.5 inches, and a width of 3.0 inches. What is the surface area of the box? Hint: Draw a net

Answer 1

To find the surface area of the box, we need to calculate the areas of all six sides and then add them up.

First, let's draw a net of the box:

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12.5 inches
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Now, let's calculate the area of each side:

1. Front and back sides (both have the same dimensions): 12.5 inches * 9.5 inches = 118.75 square inches
2. Top and bottom sides (both have the same dimensions): 12.5 inches * 3.0 inches = 37.5 square inches
3. Left and right sides (both have the same dimensions): 9.5 inches * 3.0 inches = 28.5 square inches

Now, we add up the areas of all six sides to get the total surface area:

Front and back sides: 2 * 118.75 square inches = 237.5 square inches
Top and bottom sides: 2 * 37.5 square inches = 75 square inches
Left and right sides: 2 * 28.5 square inches = 57 square inches

Total surface area = 237.5 + 75 + 57 = 369.5 square inches

Therefore, the surface area of the box is 369.5 square inches.