Difference between revisions of "Surface area"
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| − | The '''surface area''' of a solid is the total exposed [[area]] that it has. For example, the | + | The '''surface area''' of a solid is the total exposed [[area]] that it has. For example, the surface area of a [[cube]] is the sum of the areas of its six [[square]] [[face]]s; the surface area of a [[tetrahedron]] is the sum of the area of its four [[triangle | triangular]] faces. In general, for any [[polyhedron]] without holes, the surface area is just the sum of the areas of the faces of the polyhedron. Some other solids, such as the [[cylinder]] and [[right cone]], have surface areas that can be computed relatively easily. However, for most solids, [[calculus]] is necessary to compute the surface area. |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 11:16, 11 July 2007
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The surface area of a solid is the total exposed area that it has. For example, the surface area of a cube is the sum of the areas of its six square faces; the surface area of a tetrahedron is the sum of the area of its four triangular faces. In general, for any polyhedron without holes, the surface area is just the sum of the areas of the faces of the polyhedron. Some other solids, such as the cylinder and right cone, have surface areas that can be computed relatively easily. However, for most solids, calculus is necessary to compute the surface area.
