Calculate Cube Surface Area: Express Total Area in Terms of Side Length 'a'

To solve this problem, we'll recall the following relevant formula:

• The surface area of a cube is given by the formula: $\text{Surface Area} = 6a^2$.

Let's break down the solution in steps:

Step 1: Identify the characteristic of the cube.
A cube is a three-dimensional shape with six identical square faces.

Step 2: Determine the area of one face.
Each face of the cube is a square with side length $a$, so the area of one face is $a^2$.

Step 3: Calculate the total surface area.
Since a cube has six identical faces, the total surface area is six times the area of one face:

$\text{Surface Area} = 6 \times a^2 = 6a^2$

Therefore, the surface area of the cube in terms of $a$ is $6a^2$.