What is the surface area of a rectangular prism whose dimensions are 3 3/4 dm x 4 1/2 x 5 dm in square decimeters?
To find the surface area of a rectangular prism, you need to calculate the area of each of its six sides and then add them together.
Given dimensions: 3 3/4 dm x 4 1/2 dm x 5 dm
First, convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions:
3 3/4 = (4*3 + 3)/4 = 15/4 dm
4 1/2 = (2*4 + 1)/2 = 9/2 dm
Surface Area = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh
Surface Area = 2(15/4)(9/2) + 2(15/4)(5) + 2(9/2)(5)
Surface Area = 135/4 + 75/2 + 45
Surface Area = 33.75 + 37.5 + 45
Surface Area = 116.25
Therefore, the surface area of the rectangular prism is 116.25 square decimeters.