To find the surface area of a square prism, you can use the formula for the surface area of a rectangular prism, adjusted for the square base. The surface area (SA) of a prism can be calculated using the formula:
\[ SA = 2B + Ph \]
Where:
- \(B\) is the area of the base
- \(P\) is the perimeter of the base
- \(h\) is the height of the prism
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Calculate the area of the base (B): Since the base is a square with a side length of 8 inches: \[ B = 8^2 = 64 \text{ in}^2 \]
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Calculate the perimeter of the base (P): The perimeter of a square is given by: \[ P = 4 \times \text{side length} = 4 \times 8 = 32 \text{ in} \]
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Calculate the surface area (SA): Now plug these values into the surface area formula: \[ SA = 2B + Ph \] \[ SA = 2 \times 64 + 32 \times 20 \] \[ SA = 128 + 640 \] \[ SA = 768 \text{ in}^2 \]
Therefore, the correct answer for the surface area of the prism is:
768 in.²