← Turn each stack into edge lengths before comparing anything · Surface Area and Volume of Solids

Turn each stack into edge lengths before comparing anything · 12 practice problems

6.G.A.4

Generated variants — 12

Freshly produced from the archetype’s parameters — problem, figure, and solution derived together.

Variant 1 easy answer: A, by 160 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 4 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 4 cm edges.
A is 2 by 2 by 2 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 3 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 4 cm, so A measures 8x8x8 cm.

8x8x8

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

384\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 384 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 4x4x12 cm.

224\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 224 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

384 - 224 = 160

A has 160 cm2 more.

Answer: A, by 160 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 16 cm2, so A showing 24 faces and B 14 gives the same 384 against 224.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.

Variant 2 easy answer: A, by 24 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 2 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 2 cm edges.
A is 2 by 2 by 2 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 4 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 2 cm, so A measures 4x4x4 cm.

4x4x4

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

96\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 96 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 2x2x8 cm.

72\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 72 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

96 - 72 = 24

A has 24 cm2 more.

Answer: A, by 24 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 4 cm2, so A showing 24 faces and B 18 gives the same 96 against 72.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.

Variant 3 easy answer: A, by 18 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 3 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 3 cm edges.
A is 2 by 2 by 2 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 5 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 3 cm, so A measures 6x6x6 cm.

6x6x6

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

216\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 216 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 3x3x15 cm.

198\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 198 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

216 - 198 = 18

A has 18 cm2 more.

Answer: A, by 18 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 9 cm2, so A showing 24 faces and B 22 gives the same 216 against 198.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.

Variant 4 easy answer: A, by 28 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 1 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 1 cm edges.
A is 3 by 3 by 3 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 6 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 1 cm, so A measures 3x3x3 cm.

3x3x3

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

54\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 54 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 1x1x6 cm.

26\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 26 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

54 - 26 = 28

A has 28 cm2 more.

Answer: A, by 28 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 1 cm2, so A showing 54 faces and B 26 gives the same 54 against 26.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.

Variant 5 medium answer: A, by 216 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 6 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 6 cm edges.
A is 2 by 2 by 2 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 4 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 6 cm, so A measures 12x12x12 cm.

12x12x12

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

864\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 864 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 6x6x24 cm.

648\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 648 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

864 - 648 = 216

A has 216 cm2 more.

Answer: A, by 216 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 36 cm2, so A showing 24 faces and B 18 gives the same 864 against 648.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.

Variant 6 medium answer: A, by 150 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 5 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 5 cm edges.
A is 2 by 2 by 3 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 6 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 5 cm, so A measures 10x10x15 cm.

10x10x15

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

800\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 800 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 5x5x30 cm.

650\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 650 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

800 - 650 = 150

A has 150 cm2 more.

Answer: A, by 150 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 25 cm2, so A showing 32 faces and B 26 gives the same 800 against 650.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.

Variant 7 medium answer: A, by 8 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 2 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 2 cm edges.
A is 2 by 3 by 2 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 7 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 2 cm, so A measures 4x6x4 cm.

4x6x4

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

128\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 128 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 2x2x14 cm.

120\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 120 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

128 - 120 = 8

A has 8 cm2 more.

Answer: A, by 8 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 4 cm2, so A showing 32 faces and B 30 gives the same 128 against 120.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.

Variant 8 medium answer: A, by 6 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 1 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 1 cm edges.
A is 2 by 2 by 4 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 8 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 1 cm, so A measures 2x2x4 cm.

2x2x4

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

40\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 40 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 1x1x8 cm.

34\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 34 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

40 - 34 = 6

A has 6 cm2 more.

Answer: A, by 6 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 1 cm2, so A showing 40 faces and B 34 gives the same 40 against 34.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.

Variant 9 hard answer: A, by 16 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 2 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 2 cm edges.
A is 3 by 3 by 2 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 9 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 2 cm, so A measures 6x6x4 cm.

6x6x4

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

168\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 168 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 2x2x18 cm.

152\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 152 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

168 - 152 = 16

A has 16 cm2 more.

Answer: A, by 16 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 4 cm2, so A showing 42 faces and B 38 gives the same 168 against 152.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.

Variant 10 hard answer: A, by 54 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 3 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 3 cm edges.
A is 2 by 5 by 2 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 10 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 3 cm, so A measures 6x15x6 cm.

6x15x6

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

432\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 432 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 3x3x30 cm.

378\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 378 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

432 - 378 = 54

A has 54 cm2 more.

Answer: A, by 54 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 9 cm2, so A showing 48 faces and B 42 gives the same 432 against 378.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.

Variant 11 hard answer: B, by 40 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 2 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 2 cm edges.
A is 4 by 2 by 2 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 12 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 2 cm, so A measures 8x4x4 cm.

8x4x4

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

160\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 160 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 2x2x24 cm.

200\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 200 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

200 - 160 = 40

B has 40 cm2 more.

Answer: B, by 40 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 4 cm2, so A showing 40 faces and B 50 gives the same 160 against 200.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.

Variant 12 hard answer: B, by 24 cm²

The cube-shaped boxes shown are stacked to build the two rectangular prisms A and B. Which one has the larger surface area, and by how many $\text{cm}^2$ ?

Show solution

1 · Understandwhat's really being asked

Identical cube boxes, 2 cm on each edge, are stacked into two prisms. We want which prism shows more surface, and by how much.

Givens

Each box is a cube with 2 cm edges.
A is 3 by 2 by 4 boxes.
B is 1 by 1 by 14 boxes.

Unknowns

Which prism has the larger surface area, and the difference.

Constraints

The boxes are identical, but the two stacks need not use the same number of them.

2 · Planchoose the strategy

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships · also uses: #15 Organize Information in More Ways#7 Identify Subproblems

Counting boxes will not answer this and neither will height. Turn each stack into the prism it makes, in centimetres, and compare the two surface areas directly.

3 · Execute4 carry out the plan

1Turn stack A into centimetres

#17 Visualize Spatial Relationships 6.G.A.4

Each box is 2 cm, so A measures 6x4x8 cm.

6x4x8

A is a prism with those edges.

2Find A's surface area

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

Three different faces, each counted twice.

208\ \text{cm}^2

A shows 208 cm2.

3Do the same for B

#7 Identify Subproblems 6.G.A.4

B measures 2x2x28 cm.

232\ \text{cm}^2

B shows 232 cm2.

4Compare them

#15 Organize Information in More Ways 6.G.A.4

Subtract the smaller from the larger.

232 - 208 = 24

B has 24 cm2 more.

Answer: B, by 24 cm²

4 · Reviewdoes it hold up?

Counting box faces instead: each face is 4 cm2, so A showing 52 faces and B 58 gives the same 208 against 232.

Another way: Counting hidden faces gives the same answer: every place two boxes touch hides two faces, and the arrangement with more touching has less surface left.

Standardsmin grade 6

6.G.A.4 Surface area using nets of 3D figures — Finding and comparing two prisms' surface areas.

💡Takeaway. The same boxes can show more or less surface. Packing them close together hides the most.