# ISEE Upper Level Quantitative : How to find the surface area of a cube

## Example Questions

### Example Question #5 : Cubes

The volume of a cube is 343 cubic inches. Give its surface area.

Explanation:

The volume of a cube is defined by the formula

where  is the length of one side.

If , then

and

So one side measures 7 inches.

The surface area of a cube is defined by the formula

, so

The surface area is 294 square inches.

### Example Question #6 : Cubes

What is the surface area of a cube with side length  ?

Explanation:

Recall that the formula for the surface area of a cube is:

, where  is the length of a side of the cube. This equation is easy to memorize because it is merely a multiplication of a single side () by  because a cube has  equal sides.

For our data, we know that ; therefore, our equation is:

### Example Question #11 : Solid Geometry

What is the surface area of a cube with a volume  ?

Explanation:

To solve this, first calculate the side length based on the volume given. Recall that the equation for the volume of a cube is:

, where  is the side length.

For our data, this gives us:

Taking the cube-root of both sides, we get:

Now, use the surface area formula to compute the total surface area:

, where  is the length of a side of the cube. This equation is easy to memorize because it is merely a multiplication of a single side () by  because a cube has  equal sides.

For our data, this gives us:

### Example Question #1 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Cube

What is the surface area of a cube with a volume  ?

Explanation:

To solve this, first calculate the side length based on the volume given. Recall that the equation for the volume of a cube is:

, where  is the side length.

For our data, this gives us:

Taking the cube-root of both sides, we get:

(You will need to use a calculator for this.  If your calculator gives you something like  . . . it is okay to round. This is just the nature of taking roots!).

Now, use the surface area formula to compute the total surface area:

, where  is the length of a side of the cube. This equation is easy to memorize because it is merely a multiplication of a single side () by  because a cube has  equal sides.

For our data, this gives us:

### Example Question #9 : Cubes

What is the surface area for a cube with a diagonal length of  ?

Explanation:

Now, this could look like a difficult problem; however, think of the equation for finding the length of the diagonal of a cube. It is like the Pythagorean Theorem, just adding an additional dimension:

(It is very easy, because the three lengths are all the same: ).

So, we know this, then:

To solve, you can factor out an  from the root on the right side of the equation:

Just by looking at this, you can tell that the answer is:

Now, use the surface area formula to compute the total surface area:

, where  is the length of a side of the cube. This equation is easy to memorize because it is merely a multiplication of a single side () by  because a cube has  equal sides.

For our data, this is:

### Example Question #10 : Cubes

What is the volume of a cube with a diagonal length of  ?

Explanation:

Now, this could look like a difficult problem.  However, think of the equation for finding the length of the diagonal of a cube. It is like the Pythagorean Theorem, just adding an additional dimension:

(It is very easy, because the three lengths are all the same: ).

So, we know this, then:

To solve, you can factor out an  from the root on the right side of the equation:

Just by looking at this, you can tell that the answer is:

Now, use the equation for the volume of a cube:

(It is like doing the area of a square, then adding another dimension!).

For our data, it is:

### Example Question #1 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Cube

What is the surface area of a cube with a volume of  ?

Explanation:

We know that the volume of a cube can be found with the equation:

, where  is the side length of the cube.

Now, if the volume is , then we know:

Either with your calculator or with careful math, you can solve by taking the cube-root of both sides. This gives you:

This means that each side of the cube is   long; therefore, each face has an area of , or  . Since there are  sides to a cube, this means the total surface area is , or  .

### Example Question #2 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Cube

What is the surface area of a cube that has a side length of  ?

Explanation:

This question is very easy. Do not over-think it! All you need to do is calculate the area of one side of the cube. Then, multiply that by  (since the cube has  sides). Each side of a cube is, of course, a square; therefore, the area of one side of this cube is , or  . This means that the whole cube has a surface area of  or  .

### Example Question #3 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Cube

What is the surface area of a cube on which one face has a diagonal of  ?

Explanation:

One of the faces of the cube could be drawn like this:

Notice that this makes a  triangle.

This means that we can create a proportion for the sides. On the standard triangle, the non-hypotenuse sides are both , and the hypotenuse is . This will allow us to make the proportion:

Multiplying both sides by , you get:

To find the area of the square, you need to square this value:

Now, since there are  sides to the cube, multiply this by  to get the total surface area: