Lateral Surface Area of Cuboid given Space Diagonal, Length and Height Formula:
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The lateral surface area of a cuboid is the total area of all its lateral faces (excluding the top and bottom faces). It represents the surface area of the four vertical sides of the cuboid.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where width (w) is calculated from space diagonal using:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the lateral surface area by first determining the width from the given space diagonal, length, and height using the Pythagorean theorem in three dimensions.
Details: Lateral surface area calculation is crucial in various fields including architecture, packaging, manufacturing, and construction. It helps determine material requirements for side surfaces, cost estimation, and structural design considerations.
Tips: Enter length, height, and space diagonal in consistent units. All values must be positive numbers. The space diagonal must be greater than the diagonal of the base (√(l² + h²)) for valid results.
Q1: What's the difference between total surface area and lateral surface area?
A: Total surface area includes all six faces of the cuboid, while lateral surface area only includes the four vertical sides (excluding top and bottom).
Q2: Can I use this calculator for cubes?
A: Yes, for cubes where length = width = height, this formula will work correctly.
Q3: What if I get an error message?
A: The error occurs when the space diagonal is not valid for the given length and height. Ensure d > √(l² + h²).
Q4: What units should I use?
A: Use consistent units (cm, m, inches, etc.) for all measurements. The result will be in square units of the input.
Q5: Can this formula be used for other 3D shapes?
A: No, this specific formula is only valid for cuboids (rectangular prisms). Other shapes have different lateral surface area formulas.