Calculate Cuboid Length: Given Surface Area 124 cm²

Surface Area Formula with Missing Dimension

Look at the cuboid of the figure below.

Its surface area is 124 cm².

Calculate the length of the cuboid.

444222

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find the length of the box
00:03 Use the formula for calculating the surface area of a box
00:06 Substitute appropriate values and solve for length L
00:24 Simplify what we can
00:31 Isolate the unknown L
00:43 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Look at the cuboid of the figure below.

Its surface area is 124 cm².

Calculate the length of the cuboid.

444222

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Identify the given information and relevant formula
  • Step 2: Substitute the known values into the formula
  • Step 3: Solve for the unknown variable (length)

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: Given the surface area of the cuboid is 124 cm², the width w=4 w = 4 cm, and the height h=2 h = 2 cm, we need to find the length l l . The formula for the surface area of a cuboid is:

2(lw+lh+wh)=Surface Area 2(lw + lh + wh) = \text{Surface Area}

Step 2: Substitute the values into the equation:

2(l4+l2+42)=124 2(l \cdot 4 + l \cdot 2 + 4 \cdot 2) = 124

Which simplifies to:

2(4l+2l+8)=124 2(4l + 2l + 8) = 124

2(6l+8)=124 2(6l + 8) = 124

Step 3: Solve for l l :

First, divide both sides by 2 to simplify:

6l+8=62 6l + 8 = 62

Subtract 8 from both sides:

6l=54 6l = 54

Divide by 6:

l=9 l = 9

Therefore, the length of the cuboid is 9 9 cm.

3

Final Answer

9 9 cm

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Formula: Surface area of cuboid = 2(lw + lh + wh)
  • Technique: Substitute known values: 2(l×4 + l×2 + 4×2) = 124
  • Check: Verify: 2(9×4 + 9×2 + 4×2) = 2(54) = 108... wait, recalculate ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Forgetting to multiply entire expression by 2
    Don't calculate just (lw + lh + wh) = 62 and solve from there = wrong answer! The surface area formula has a factor of 2 for ALL faces (top/bottom, front/back, left/right). Always keep the 2 throughout your calculation.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Identify the correct 2D pattern of the given cuboid:

444444999

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do we multiply by 2 in the surface area formula?

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A cuboid has 6 faces that come in 3 pairs: top/bottom, front/back, and left/right. Each pair has the same area, so we calculate 3 different areas and multiply by 2!

What if I get confused with all the algebra?

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Break it down step by step! First substitute the numbers you know, then combine like terms (4l + 2l = 6l), and finally solve the simple equation.

How can I check if my length of 9 cm is correct?

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Substitute back: 2(9×4 + 9×2 + 4×2) = 2(36 + 18 + 8) = 2(62) = 124 cm²

What if the numbers don't work out nicely?

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Sometimes you'll get decimal or fractional answers - that's normal! Just make sure to double-check your arithmetic and verify your answer.

Can I solve this problem differently?

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You could rearrange the formula first to solve for length: l=SA2wh2(w+h) l = \frac{SA - 2wh}{2(w + h)} , but substituting directly is usually easier to follow.

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