Calculate the surface area of a cube with a side length of 7.25 inches.

To calculate the surface area of a cube, you use the formula for the surface area, which is given by ( 6s^2 ), where ( s ) is the length of one side of the cube.

In this case, the side length ( s ) is 7.25 inches. First, you calculate ( s^2 ):

[

s^2 = (7.25)^2 = 52.5625 \text{ square inches}

]

Next, multiply this value by 6 to find the total surface area:

[

\text{Surface Area} = 6 \times 52.5625 = 315.375 \text{ square inches}

]

Therefore, the correct surface area of the cube with a side length of 7.25 inches is 315.375 square inches. This matches the provided answer choice. Understanding the computation of surface area hinges on applying the formula accurately, and ensuring square units are used consistently throughout the calculation.