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GCSE Mathematics · key term
The total area of all the exposed faces and curved surfaces on the outside of a three-dimensional solid, measured in square units.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification G17 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
The total area of the exposed faces or curved surfaces of a three-dimensional solid.
Revise: Circle CalculationsSurface area measures the exposed covering of a solid and uses square units. Imagine unfolding the solid into a net, then add the areas of its faces and curved surfaces. Joined faces inside a composite solid are not exposed and must not be counted.
Specification G17 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
For surface area, count only exposed surfaces. Include a base or circular end only if it is present and exposed.
The perpendicular height is used in a volume formula; the slant height is used for the curved surface area of a cone.
Attach appropriate units: length units for perimeter or circumference, square units for area and surface area, and cubic units for volume.
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Surface area measures the outside covering of a solid. Imagine cutting along some edges and opening the surface into flat pieces: the surface area is the sum of the areas of those pieces.
Specification 10.04a, 10.04b, 10.04c · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher), Paper 5 (Higher), Paper 6 (Higher)
The area of all the exposed faces or surfaces of a three-dimensional shape, measured in square units.
Revise: Prisms and CylindersSurface area measures the outside of a solid. A right prism has two matching end faces, plus side faces joining corresponding edges of the cross-section. Unfolding it into a net makes those faces easier to count.
The total area of all the exposed surfaces of a three-dimensional object, measured in square units.
The total area of the outside faces of a three-dimensional solid.