In geometry, a prism is a polyhedron with two identical faces that are parallel and oriented in the same direction. These two faces are connected by a band of rectangles. The surface area of a prism is the total area of all its faces. In this article, we will focus on the surface area of prisms, providing a step-by-step guide on how to calculate it and offering practice problems for you to try. What is Surface Area? The surface area of a three-dimensional object is the total area of all its surfaces. For a prism, this includes the areas of the two identical faces (the bases) and the areas of the rectangular faces (the lateral faces). Surface Area of a Prism Formula The formula for the surface area of a prism is:
\[SA = 2A + Ph\]