The method for calculating surface area depends on the shape or object in question. Here are formulas for calculating the surface area of common geometric shapes:
Rectangular Prism: Surface Area = 2*(length * width + length * height + width * height)
Cube: Surface Area = 6*(side length)^2
Cylinder: Surface Area = 2*(π * radius^2) + 2*(π * radius * height)
Sphere: Surface Area = 4*(π * radius^2)
Cone: Surface Area = π * radius * (radius + slant height)
Pyramid: Surface Area = base area + (1/2) * perimeter of base * slant height
These formulas provide the surface area of each shape based on their respective dimensions. It's important to ensure that the dimensions used in the calculations are consistent (e.g., using the same units of measurement) to obtain accurate results.