GCSE Maths Practice: surface-area

Question 3 of 10

This question explains what surface area measures in 3D shapes.

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\( \begin{array}{l}\text{What does surface area measure?}\end{array} \)

Choose one option:

Sum the area of every external face. Do not confuse with volume.

Surface area measures the total area covering all external faces of a 3D shape. For example, a cube has six square faces, and its surface area is the sum of all six face areas. Understanding the difference between surface area and volume is crucial: volume measures the space inside a shape, while surface area measures the covering outside. Practicing different 3D shapes like cubes, cuboids, prisms, and pyramids enhances spatial understanding and real-world problem-solving skills, such as packaging and material estimation.