SURFACE AREAS AND VOLUMES

Table 6.5.1: Area formulas

Shape Name Shape Area Formula

Rectangle A=bh

A=bh
Square
A=s2

Parallelogram A=bh

Triangle A=1/2 bh

Circle A=πr2

Trapezoid A=1/2 (b1+b2) h

b = base h = height r = radius s = sides

b1 = base 1 b2 = base 2
 Table 6.5.3: Volume formulas

Geometric Figure  Volume Formula  Volume Meaning 

Find the area of the base and multiply it

V=Bh
by the height 

Find the area of the base and multiply it

V=1/3 Bh
by 1/3 of the height. 

Find the area of the base and multiply it

V=Bh
by the height. 
 

Find the area of the great circle and

V=4/3πr 3
multiply it by the radius and then multiply
it by 4/3. 
 

Find the area of the base and multiply it

V=1/3Bh
by 1/3 of the height. 
 

B = area of base h = height r = radius

 1. Erin is making a jewelry box of wood in the shape of a rectangular prism.
The jewelry box will have the dimensions shown on the right. The cost of
painting all exterior surfaces of the box is $0.50 per square in. How much
does Erin have to spend to paint the jewelry box ?

Solution : 

To know that total cost of painting, first we have to know the Surface area of the jewelry box. 
Find surface area of the box. 
Step 1 :
Identify a base, and find its area and perimeter.
Any pair of opposite faces can be the bases. For example, we can choose the bottom and top of the box as the bases.
Find base area. 
B  =  l x w =  12 x 15 =  180 square in.
Find perimeter of the base. 
P  =  2(12) + 2(15) =  24 + 30 =  54 in.
Step 2 : 
Identify the height, and find the surface area.
The height h of the prism is 6 inches. Use the formula to find the surface area.
S  =  Ph + 2B =  54(6) + 2(180) =  684 square inches
Step 3 :
Total cost  =  Area x Cost per square in.
Total cost  =  684 x $0.50
Total cost  =  $342
Hence, Erin has to spend $342 to paint the jewelry box. 

2. Cherise is setting up her tent. Her tent is in the shape of a trapezoidal

prism shown on the left. How many cubic feet of space are in her tent ?

Step 1 : To find the number of cubic feet of space in  the tent, we have to find the
volume of Cherise's tent. 
Step 2 : Volume of Cherise's tent (Trapezoidal prism) is  =  base area x height
or
V  =  B x h
Step 3 : Find base area.
Area of trapezoid with bases of lengths b₁ and b₂ and height h. 
Base area (B)  =  (1/2) x (b₁ + b₂)h
Base area (B)  =  (1/2) x (6 + 4)4
Base area  =  20 sq.ft
Step 4 :
Find volume of the prism.
V  =  b x h =  20 x 9 =  180 cubic.ft
Hence, the number of cubic feet of space in  Cherise's tent is 180. 
3. The level of water of a swimming pool is rectangular of which length is 32 metres and width is 9.5
metres and the depth of water at one end is 1 ½ metres which increases to 4 ½ metres at other
end. Find the volume of water in the swimming pool.
Solution:
The cross-section of swimming pool is like a trapezium, of which parallel sides are 4 ½ metres and
1 ½ metres and vertical perpendicular is 32 metres.
Therefore the area of cross-section
=1/2 × 16 × (4 ½ + 1 ½ )
= 48 sq.m.
Hence the volume of water in the swimming pool = area of the cross-section × length
= 48 × 9.5
=456 cubic metres.

4. The length of the floor if a rectangle hall is 10 m more than its breadth. If 34 carpets of size 6 × 4m
are required to cover the floor of the hall, then find the length and breadth of the hall.
A. 24m x 24m         B. 24m x 34m         C. 22m x 32m            D. 34m x 34m

Ans: Let breadth = b then length = b + 10m.

Floor area of the rectangle hall = A = length × breadth = b × (b + 10)

Also area of each carpet = 6 × 4m and 34 pieces are required to cover the floor

Therefore area of hall = 34 × 6 × 4

b × (b + 10) = 34 × 24

Therefore b = 24 m and length = b + 10 = 34m. Thus B is the correct answer.