Area, Surface Area & Volume

Grade 6 Mathematics

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The Big Idea

AREA = the space INSIDE a 2D shape (measured in square units: cm^2, in^2)

SURFACE AREA = the total area of ALL faces of a 3D shape (square units)

VOLUME = the space INSIDE a 3D shape (measured in cubic units: cm^3, in^3)

Area Formulas You Need to Know

Triangle

A = (1/2) x b x h
Half of base times height

Parallelogram

A = b x h
Base times perpendicular height

Trapezoid

A = (1/2)(b1 + b2) x h
Half of (sum of bases) times height

Rectangle

A = l x w
Length times width

Example 1: Area of a Triangle

Find the area of a triangle with base = 8 cm and height = 5 cm

1

Write the formula: A = (1/2) x b x h

2

Substitute the values: A = (1/2) x 8 x 5

3

Calculate: A = (1/2) x 40 = 20 cm^2

Why divide by 2? A triangle is exactly HALF of a rectangle with the same base and height!

Example 2: Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism

Find the surface area of a box: length = 4 in, width = 3 in, height = 2 in

A rectangular prism has 6 faces (3 pairs):

- 2 faces that are l x w (top and bottom): 4 x 3 = 12 in^2 each

- 2 faces that are l x h (front and back): 4 x 2 = 8 in^2 each

- 2 faces that are w x h (left and right): 3 x 2 = 6 in^2 each

1

Formula: SA = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh

2

Calculate: SA = 2(4x3) + 2(4x2) + 2(3x2) = 2(12) + 2(8) + 2(6) = 24 + 16 + 12 = 52 in^2

Example 3: Volume of a Rectangular Prism

Same box: length = 4 in, width = 3 in, height = 2 in

1

Formula: V = l x w x h

2

Calculate: V = 4 x 3 x 2 = 24 in^3 (cubic inches)

Think of it as: How many 1-inch cubes would fit inside the box? 24 cubes!

TRAP ALERT: Use the HEIGHT, Not the Slant!

WRONG: Using the slanted side of a triangle or parallelogram as the height.

RIGHT: The HEIGHT must be PERPENDICULAR (at a right angle) to the base. Look for the dotted line that makes a 90-degree angle!

Your Turn: Find the Area

1. Triangle: base = 12 cm, height = 7 cm

A = (1/2) x _____ x _____ = cm^2

2. Parallelogram: base = 9 in, height = 4 in

A = _____ x _____ = in^2

3. Trapezoid: base1 = 6 m, base2 = 10 m, height = 4 m

A = (1/2)(_____ + _____) x _____ = m^2

Your Turn: Surface Area and Volume

4. Rectangular prism: length = 5 cm, width = 4 cm, height = 3 cm

Surface Area = 2(___x___) + 2(___x___) + 2(___x___) = cm^2

Volume = ___ x ___ x ___ = cm^3

5. A gift box is 8 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 3 inches tall. How much wrapping paper is needed to cover the entire box? (Find surface area)

Surface Area = in^2

Remember These Key Points!