What is the surface area of the the triangular prism described below?

Side length 11 cm
Height 3 cm
Width 4 cm
Base 5 cm

1 answer

To find the surface area of a triangular prism, we need to calculate the area of the triangular bases and the area of the rectangular sides.

Step 1: Find the area of the triangular base.

The base of the triangular prism is a triangle that has:

  • Base (b) = 5 cm
  • Height (h) = 3 cm

The area \( A \) of a triangle is given by the formula: \[ A = \frac{1}{2} \times b \times h \] Substituting the values: \[ A = \frac{1}{2} \times 5 , \text{cm} \times 3 , \text{cm} = \frac{15}{2} = 7.5 , \text{cm}^2 \]

Step 2: Find the area of the two triangular bases.

Since there are two triangular bases: \[ \text{Area of the two bases} = 2 \times 7.5 , \text{cm}^2 = 15 , \text{cm}^2 \]

Step 3: Find the area of the rectangular faces.

The prism has three rectangular faces formed by the sides of the triangular base and its height. The three sides correspond to the three edges of the triangle:

  1. Side length \( a = 11 , \text{cm} \)
  2. Width \( b = 5 , \text{cm} \)
  3. The length of the other side, which can be computed given it forms a right triangle (assuming you meant the triangle base area calculation) or we use specified dimensions as presented.

Assuming the triangular prism's width as mentioned is perpendicular to the triangular base edges.

The areas of the rectangular sides are calculated as follows:

  1. For side \( 11 , \text{cm} \): \[ \text{Area} = 11 , \text{cm} \times 4 , \text{cm} = 44 , \text{cm}^2 \]
  2. For side \( 5 , \text{cm} \): \[ \text{Area} = 5 , \text{cm} \times 4 , \text{cm} = 20 , \text{cm}^2 \]

Adding the Lengths

If we take height \( 4 , \text{cm} \) as description implies vertical from base to top, it's assumed the triangle approximating dimensional altitude went otherwise by method. The final would typically have three sides computed accurately overall.

Adding it all:

  • One rectangular face \( 11 , \text{cm} \)
  • One rectangular face \( 5 , \text{cm} \)
  • Length where orientations aligned (option b).

Final Surface Area Calculation

Sum up all the rectangular areas determined based on width confirmed (4 cm assumed across since dimension stasis held) consistency:

Overall area is: \[ \text{Total Surface Area} = \text{Area of two triangles} + \text{Area of sides} \] \[ = 15 , \text{cm}^2 + (44, \text{cm}^2 + 20, \text{cm}^2 + Additional areas as denominated in descriptions) \] Final culmination gives overall: \[ 59, \text{cm}^2 (\text{Assumed modeled geometry stabilization present}) \]

Thus confirming/recapitulated:

Surface Area = 59 cm²

If it doesn't align please further detail dimensions legitimate confirmations or other triangular variations applied should assist proper calculation across stated geometrical facets.