How to find the total surface area of a cube?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the formula or method to calculate the total surface area of a cube. A cube has six square faces, and to find the total surface area, we would typically need to use the length of one side of the cube.
Answer
$6a^2$
Answer for screen readers
The total surface area of a cube with side length $a$ is $6a^2$
Steps to Solve
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Identify the side length of the cube Given side length is usually denoted as $a$.
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Calculate the area of one face Each face of the cube is a square, so the area of one square face is $a^2$.
$$\text{Area of one face} = a^2$$
- Calculate the total surface area A cube has 6 faces, all of which are squares of the same size. So, to find the total surface area, multiply the area of one face by 6.
$$\text{Total Surface Area} = 6 \times a^2$$
The total surface area of a cube with side length $a$ is $6a^2$
More Information
The cube is a special case of a rectangular prism where all sides are equal. Its unique geometric properties make formulas for volume and surface area straightforward.
Tips
A common mistake is to forget that a cube has 6 faces. Always count the faces to ensure the correct multiplication factor.
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