To calculate the surface area of a rectangular prism, we use the following formula:

$SA = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh$

where:

• $l$ = length = 13 m
• $w$ = width = 7 m
• $h$ = height = 3 m

Let's calculate each part step by step:

1. $2lw = 2(13)(7) = 2(91) = 182 \, \text{m}^2$
2. $2lh = 2(13)(3) = 2(39) = 78 \, \text{m}^2$
3. $2wh = 2(7)(3) = 2(21) = 42 \, \text{m}^2$

Now, sum them up:

$SA = 182 + 78 + 42 = 302 \, \text{m}^2$

So, the surface area of the rectangular prism is 302 square meters.

Would you like more details on any step? Here are five questions that you might consider:

1. How would the surface area change if one of the dimensions doubled?
2. Can you calculate the volume of this rectangular prism?
3. What is the difference between lateral and total surface area?
4. How does this formula apply to non-rectangular prisms?
5. How can surface area formulas be used in real-world applications like packaging?

Tip: When calculating surface area, it's essential to identify all pairs of identical faces in the shape, as this helps in correctly applying the formula.