Cube surface area with edge a: SA = ?

Cube surface area with edge a: SA = ?

• A. SA = 6a²
• B. SA = 3a²
• C. SA = 6a
• D. SA = a⁴

Answer: (A)

A cube has six square faces, and each face has area a^2 since the side length is a. Add up all six faces: 6 × a^2 = 6a^2. That’s why the surface area is 6a^2. The other expressions don’t fit because they don’t represent an area for all six faces (6a would be a linear measure, not area) and a^4 isn’t related to the cube’s surface or volume (the volume would be a^3).

A cube has six square faces, and each face has area a^2 since the side length is a. Add up all six faces: 6 × a^2 = 6a^2. That’s why the surface area is 6a^2. The other expressions don’t fit because they don’t represent an area for all six faces (6a would be a linear measure, not area) and a^4 isn’t related to the cube’s surface or volume (the volume would be a^3).