OE


A rectangular solid has three pairs of opposing equal faces, each pair representing two of the dimensions of the solid (length × width; length × height; height × width). The total surface area of a rectangular solid is the sum of the surface areas of those three pairs of opposing sides. According to the diagram, the dimensions of each rod must be 1 × 1 × 6. So the surface area of one such rod is: 2(1 × 1) + 2(1 × 6) + 2(1 × 6) = 26 or 2[(1 × 1) + (1 × 6) + (1 × 6)] = 26 That is, one rod has a total surface area of 26, and four times this surface area is 4 × 26 = 104.

The large rectangular solid has a total surface area of: 2(3 × 3) + 2(3 × 6) + 2(3 × 6), or 90.

A > B