What is the width of a rectangular prism when the surface area is 208 square centimeters, and it has a height of 8 and a depth of 6?

1 Answer
May 21, 2018

The width is 4.

Explanation:

Use the surface area formula of a rectangular prism to find the width. (I have changed it to use the same terms given in the problem).

A = 2(dw + hw + hd)

Because of the given information, it is known that:

A = 208
h = 8
d = 6

The width is not know, so let it keep it's variable w. But substitute the other values into the equation:

A = 2(dw + hw + hd)

208 = 2[6w + 8w + (8)(6)]

208 = 2(14w + 48)

Use the distributive property to solve the right side of the equal sign:

208 = 2(14w + 48)

208 = 28w + 96

112 = 28w

112/28 = w

4 = w

The width is 4.