How do you measure the surface of a triangular prism?

Answer 1

When you say surface of a prism this means the total amount of space on the outside of the prism. You have specified it to be a triangular prism, but taking the surface area of all prisms is the same process for all prisms.

When finding the surface area of a prism you always use this equation...

S.A. = (2 x Area of Prism Base) + (Height x Perimeter of Prism Base)

In a triangular prism the base would be a triangle. Therefore to find the area you have to do 0.5 x base of the triangle x height of the triangle. For the perimeter of the triangle just add the length of all the sides together. The height indicated in your S.A. = ... formula... is how tall the prism actually stands.

So since this prism is a triangular prism take the general surface area equation and put the correct triangular measurements into the general equation and you have this...

S.A. = [2 x 0.5 x (height) x (base)] + [Height x perimeter]

Here is the formula in word form.

The surface area of a triangular prism is equal to two multiplied by one half multiplied by the height of the traingular height multiplied by the triangular base compute this number and then add it to the product of the height of the prism times the perimeter of the triangular base.