Question

What is a net? What can we use a net for? How can a net be used to find surface area?

Answer 1

A net is a 2-d shape that can be folded up to make a 3-d shape

Here's an example for a cube. This shape, when folded up, makes the cube.

Now, how could we use the net to find the surface area of the cube?

Answer 2

Notice how the 2d shape folds into the 3d shape

All the yellow area on the 2d shape becomes the surface area of the 3d shape

So you simply add the area on the net to find the surface area