Nets and Solids

LESSON

5.2

A net is a flat figure that can be folded to form a closed,

three-dimensional object. This type of object is called a
geometric solid .

Inv 1 Use a Net

229

Inv 2 Use Nets to

230

Investigate Solids

Inv 3 Is Todays Beverage Can

the Best Shape?

Vocabulary

233

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$VCF

Explore
of these figures are also nets for a cube? That is,
Which
which will fold into a cube? Cut out a copy of each figure.

net
solid

Try to fold it into a cube.

Materials

scissors

'JHVSF
"

graph paper
'JHVSF
#

'JHVSF
$

'JHVSF
%

'JHVSF
&

Find and draw three other nets for a cube.

With your class, compile all the different nets for a cube that
were found. How many nets are there? Do you think your class
found all of them?

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Investigation
Materials

Use a Net

For a net to form a three-dimensional object, certain lengths have

to match. For example, in the nets for cubes, the side lengths of all the
squares must be the same. You will now investigate whether other nets
will form closed solids. Pay close attention to the measurements that
need to match.

scissors

Develop & Understand: A

Decide whether each figure is a net, that is, whether it will fold into a
solid. One way to decide is to cut out a copy of the figure and try to
fold it. If the figure is a net, describe the shape it creates. If it is not a
net, explain why not.
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

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7.

8.

9.

Share

Investigation
Materials

metric ruler

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1.

For a net to fold into a cylinder, the circumference of the circles

must be the same as what other length?

2.

Draw a net for a figure different from those in Exercises 19.

Explain how you know your net will fold to form a solid.

Use Nets to Investigate Solids

You have calculated surface area by counting the square units on the
outside of a structure. If the faces of a solid are not squares, like the
figures below, you can find the solids surface area by adding the areas
of all its faces.

scissors

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& Summarize

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Example
This net folds to form a cylinder.

10 cm
5 cm

Because the net folds into a cylinder, the circles must be the same
2
2
2
size. The area of each circle is r cm , or 25 cm . This is about
2
78.5 cm .
The length of the rectangle must be equal to the circumference of
each circle, which is 10 cm, or about 31.4 cm. So, the area of the
2
rectangle is about 314 cm .
To find the cylinders surface area, add the three areas.
2
2
2
2
78.5 cm + 78.5 cm + 314 cm = 471 cm

Develop & Understand: A

Each net shown will fold to form a closed solid. Use the nets
measurements to find the surface area and volume of the solid. If you
cannot find the exact volume, approximate it. It may be helpful to cut
out and fold a copy of the net.
1.

Math Link

3m

2.

3m

The formula for the

circumference of a circle is
2r, where r is the radius; or
d, where d is the diameter.

2 cm

6m

1 cm

The formula for the area of a

circle is r 2.

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4m

3.

Math Link
2m

The formula for the area A of

1
a triangle is A = _ bh, where
2
b is the base and h is the
height.

1.5 m
1m

4.

5m

3m

3m

4m

5.

2 cm

2 cm

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Share

Investigation

12-oz beverage can

metric ruler

1.

Explain how to find the surface area of a solid from the net for
that solid.

2.

Here is a net for a rectangular solid. Take whatever measurements

you think are necessary to find the solids volume and surface
area. Explain what measurements you took and how you
used them.

Materials

& Summarize

Is Todays Beverage Can

the Best Shape?

The Bursting Bubbles company is trying to reduce its manufacturing

costs in order to increase its profits. The president of the company
wonders if there is a way to use less material to make a beverage can.
In this investigation, you will help Bursting Bubbles design a can that
has the minimum surface area for the volume of beverage it contains.

Develop & Understand: A

To get started, inspect a 12-ounce beverage can. Get an idea of its
dimensions, volume, and surface area.
1.

Find the area in square centimeters of the base of the can. If the can
you are using is indented at the bottom, assume that it is not.

2.

Measure the cans height in centimeters.

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The volume printed on the can is given in milliliters (abbreviated mL).

3
A milliliter has the same volume as a cubic centimeter, so 1 mL = 1 cm .
3.

Does multiplying the area of the base by the height give the volume
that is printed on the can? If not, why might the measures differ?

4.

What is the surface area of the can in square centimeters? How did
you find it? (Hint: Imagine what a net for the can would look like.)

Develop & Understand: B

Now consider how the can design might be changed. For these exercises,
use the volume that you calculated in Exercises 14, rather than the
volume printed on the can.

Real-World Link
As water bubbles up through
the earth from natural springs,
it collects minerals and carbon
dioxide. In the 1700s, chemists
perfected a method of adding
carbonation and minerals to
plain water and bottling the
result.

5.

Design and describe five other cans that have approximately the
same volume as your can. Sketch a net for each can. Record the
radius of the base and the height. Include cans that are both shorter
and taller than a regular beverage can. (Hint: First choose the height
of the can and then find the radius.)

6.

Calculate the surface area of each can you designed. Record your
groups data on the board for the class to see.

7.

Compare the surface areas of the cans that you and your classmates
found. Which can has the greatest surface area? Which has the least
surface area?

Bursting Bubbles wants to make a can using the least amount of

aluminum possible. The company cannot do it by evaluating every
possible can, like the five you found, and choosing the best. There are
too many, an infinite number, and Bursting Bubbles could never be
sure it had found the one using the least material.
One strategy that mathematicians use is to gather data, as you did in
Exercise 5, and look for patterns in the data. For an exercise like this
one, they would also try to show that a particular solution is the best
in a way that does not involve testing every case.
8.

Use what you know about volume and any patterns that you found
in Exercises 5 and 6 to recommend a can with the least possible
surface area to the president of Bursting Bubbles. Describe your can
completely. Explain why you believe it has the least surface area.

Share

& Summarize

Does the shape of standard beverage cans use the minimum surface
area for the volume they contain? If not, what might be some
reasons companies use the shape they do?

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On Your Own Exercises

Lesson 5.2

Practice

& Apply

Decide whether each figure is a net, that is, whether it will fold into a
closed solid. One way to decide is to cut out a copy of the figure and
try to fold it. If the figure is a net, describe the shape it creates. If it is
not a net, explain why not.
1.

2.

3.

4.

A square pyramid has a square base and triangular

faces that meet at a vertex. Draw at least three nets
for a square pyramid.

4RVBSF
1ZSBNJE

In Exercises 58, find the surface area of the solid that can be created
from the net. Show how you found the surface area.
5.

Each triangle is equilateral with

sides 5 centimeters and height
4.3 centimeters.

6.

The radius of each circle is

2 centimeters. The height of the
parallelogram is 2 centimeters.

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On Your Own Exercises

7.

The pentagons have side lengths of 3 centimeters. If you divide

each pentagon into five isosceles triangles, the height of each
triangle is 2 centimeters. The other shapes are squares.

8.

Each triangle is equilateral with sides

8 centimeters and height 7 centimeters.
The other shapes are squares.

9.

A box of tissues has length

24 centimeters, width
12 centimeters, and height
10.5 centimeters.

10.

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a.

What is the volume of the box?

b.

What is the surface area of

the box?

Alana has a juice pitcher that is shaped like a cylinder. It is

30 centimeters high and has a base with radius 6 centimeters.
It has a flat lid.
a.

How much juice will her pitcher hold?

b.

What is the surface area of her pitcher and its lid?

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On Your Own Exercises

11. Challenge

This net will fold into a triangular pyramid. Find the

surface area of the pyramid. Estimate its volume. You may want
to fold a copy of the net into the pyramid.

5.2 cm

6 cm

12.

Connect

& Extend

13.

Choose a container in your house. You might choose a rectangular

box, a can other than a beverage can, or some other object.
a.

Draw a net for the object.

b.

Find the surface area and volume of the object by measuring

its dimensions.

c.

Draw nets for three other objects with the same volume as your
container. Find the surface area of each. The new objects do not
have to be real containers from your home.

d.

Is there a prism or cylinder with less surface area but the same
volume as your container? If so, draw a net for it.

Imagine removing a label from a soup can.

a.

What is the shape of the label?

b.

If the radius of the soup can is r and the height

is h, what are the dimensions of the label?

SOUP

Create a net for each block structure.

14.
15.
16.

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On Your Own Exercises

17. Challenge

A cone has a circular base and a vertex some height

away from that base. Make a net for a cone.

18. Challenge

A tetrahedron is a solid with four triangular

faces. You have made tetrahedrons from nets in this
lesson. Nets for a tetrahedron contain only triangles.
Can you make a net for another figure using only
triangles? (Hint: You might try taping paper triangles
together to form a new solid.)

19.

5FUSBIFESPO

Kinus Frozen Yogurt store packs its product into cylindrical tubs
that are 20 cm in diameter and 30 cm tall.

a.

How much frozen yogurt does a tub hold?

b.

Kinus sells frozen yogurt in cylindrical scoops. If each scoop

has base radius 2 cm and height 6 cm, what is the volume of a
single scoop?

c.

How many scoops of frozen yogurt are in a tub? Show how you
found your answer.

d.

What is the surface area of a tub?

e.

What is the total surface area of the frozen yogurt from one tub
after it has all been scooped?

f.

Which has more surface area, the frozen yogurt in the tub or the
scooped frozen yogurt? Which would melt faster?

20. In Your Own Words

Explain why nets might be useful in sewing,

manufacturing, or some other profession.

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On Your Own Exercises

21.

A circular pond is 100 feet in diameter. In the middle of winter, the

ice on the pond is 6 inches thick.
a.

Think of the ice on the pond as a cylinder. What is the volume

of ice?

b.

What is the surface area of the floating cylinder of ice?

c.

What would be the edge length of a cube of ice that had the
same volume?

d.

What would be the surface area of a cube of ice that had the
same volume?

e.

Which has greater surface area, the cylinder of ice or the cube
of ice? How much more?

Preview Match the following items with the most appropriate unit

of weight.

Mixed Review

22.

an elephant

A.

ounces

23.

a cup of yogurt

B.

pounds

24.

a human being

C.

tons

Find each product or quotient.

1 _
-_
-2

( 3)
_4
_2
28. - (- )
9
3

25.

6(-12)

27.

15 (-2)

29.

Copy and complete the chart.

26.

Fraction

_1

Decimal

0.5

Percent

50%

_3
5

0.65
21%

Rewrite each number in standard notation.

30.

8 10 2

32.

3.12 10

34.

Suppose you use a photocopying machine to reduce a photograph.

-4

31.

1.42 10 6

33.

6.13 10

a.

Your photograph is 10 cm wide, and you reduce it to 85% of its

original size. What is the width of the reduced image?

b.

You use the same setting to reduce the copy. What is the width
of the image after the second reduction?
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