How to Calculate the Area of a Carton
Surface area is the measurement of all the sides that enclose an geometrical object. It is expressed in terms of a square unit, such as square feet. Knowing the area and volume of a carton helps manufacturers plan the optimum number of items that can ship inside a single carton. Manufacturers of cartons must understand surface area to determine the cost of the cardboard needed for their products as well as associated printing costs.
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Instructions
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1
Measure the height (H) of the carton. The height is the distance from a bottom corner of the carton straight up to the corresponding top corner. Record the measurement.
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2
Measure the width (W) of the carton in the same unit of measurement used in Step 1. The width is the distance between one bottom corner of the carton, straight across to the next bottom corner. Record the measurement.
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3
Measure the length (L) of the carton in the same unit of measurement used in Step 1. The length of the carton is the distance between one of the bottom corners from Step 2, straight across to the next bottom corner that was not used in Step 2. Record the measurement.
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4
Calculate the area of the carton by inserting the measurements into the formula total surface area (A) = 2(H x L) + 2(H x W) + 2(W x L). Assuming the length (L) is 24 inches, the width (W) is 18 inches and the height (H) is 16 inches, you would have the following equation: 2(16 x 24) + 2(16 x 18) + 2(18 x 24) = 2(384) + 2(288) + 2(432) = 768 + 576 + 864 = 2,208 square inches.
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References
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