1. ## TSA

How is it calculated?

2. Originally Posted by angelmt
How is it calculated?
What is "TSA"? If you're referring to "total surface area", the methods involved will vary with the information provided.

3. ## TSA

Yes, I was referring to the Total Surface Area of a cube. What's the difference between that and the volume? For example if a cube is 10 cm, how are the volume and the TSA calculated?

4. Originally Posted by angelmt
Yes, I was referring to the Total Surface Area of a cube. What's the difference between that and the volume? For example if a cube is 10 cm, how are the volume and the TSA calculated?
The Total Surface Area of a shape is the area of its "outer wrapping". This area is measured in squares.

The Volume of a shape is how much "stuff" you can fit inside it. This "stuff" is measured in cubes.

Notice that a cube has 6 faces.

If a cube is 10cm in length (?) then...

The area of one face is $10^2\textrm{cm}^2 = 100\textrm{cm}^2$, therefore the total surface area is $6\times 100\textrm{cm}^2 = 600\textrm{cm}^2$.

Since ten centimetre squares can fit along the length and ten centimetre squares can fit along the width, and ten layers can be stacked, the volume is $10^3\textrm{cm}^3 = 1000\textrm{cm}^3$.

Hope that made sense.

5. ## Clarification

So, if I understood correctly, the 100 cm2 is the length x the width. Now: if a cube is 6cm in length, 4cm in width and 5 cm in height, how woukl I calculate the surface area (volume is l x w x h). Are the surface area and the total surface area the same thing? Thanks for your help

6. Originally Posted by angelmt
So, if I understood correctly, the 100 cm2 is the length x the width. Now: if a cube is 6cm in length, 4cm in width and 5 cm in height, how woukl I calculate the surface area (volume is l x w x h). Are the surface area and the total surface area the same thing? Thanks for your help
TSA = 2[(6)(4) + (6)(5) + (4)(5)] cm^2.

I have a feeling that TSA and your understanding of surface area are the same thing.