2. What is the surface area of box with dimensions 8 in by 12 in by 2 in?

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175 in squared
221 in squared
272 in squared
312 in squared

1 answer

To calculate the surface area of a rectangular box (also known as a rectangular prism), you use the formula:

\[ \text{Surface Area} = 2(lw + lh + wh) \]

where \( l \) is the length, \( w \) is the width, and \( h \) is the height.

Given the dimensions:
- Length (\( l \)) = 8 inches
- Width (\( w \)) = 12 inches
- Height (\( h \)) = 2 inches

Let's plug these into the formula:

\[ \text{Surface Area} = 2(8 \cdot 12 + 8 \cdot 2 + 12 \cdot 2) \]

Calculate each term inside the parentheses first:

\[ 8 \cdot 12 = 96 \]
\[ 8 \cdot 2 = 16 \]
\[ 12 \cdot 2 = 24 \]

Add these products together:

\[ 96 + 16 + 24 = 136 \]

Multiply the sum by 2:

\[ 2 \cdot 136 = 272 \]

So, the surface area of the box is:

\[ \boxed{272 \, \text{in}^2} \]

Therefore, the correct answer is 272 square inches.